Nuclear means legitimate for Russian, Belarusian security: Moscow
3 Min Read
Yesterday, President Joe Biden expressed concern over Russia's deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus.
-
The Russian flag flies outside the Embassy of Russia in Washington, February 24, 2022 (AP)
The Russian Embassy in the United States said Russia and Belarus had the right to employ the necessary means to safeguard their security, including military-nuclear means, especially in light of the circumstances of the so-called "hybrid war" Washington has sparked.
The embassy's announcement comes in response to President Joe Biden's comments to reporters yesterday when he expressed his concerns over Russia's decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying he had an "extremely negative" reaction to Russia's action.
"We have noted increasingly frequent comments in recent days coming from the White House and State Department concerning the Russia-Belarus military-nuclear cooperation," the Russian embassy noted.
"They once again accused us of ‘irresponsible and provocative behavior, it is the sovereign right of Russia and Belarus to ensure their security by means we deem necessary amidst a large-scale hybrid war unleashed by Washington against us," it added.
"Before blaming others, Washington could use some introspection. The United States has been for decades maintaining a large arsenal of its nuclear weapons in Europe. Together with its NATO allies it participates in nuclear sharing arrangements and trains for scenarios of nuclear weapons use against our country," the statement concluded.
Read more: Belarus overhauls military training, arms procurement: Top official
On Thursday, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu signed documents outlining Russia's non-strategic nuclear weapons maintenance routine.
Shoigu had arrived in Minsk earlier in the day to attend a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization at the level of defense ministers.
According to the Belarusian defense ministry, "During a meeting, [the sides] signed documents defining the procedure for maintaining Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons in a special storage facility on the territory of Belarus," adding that the deployment is a response against unfriendly countries.
Read more: Russia will deploy some of its tactical nuke arsenal in Belarus: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated back in March that Minsk would not be given control of any nuclear weapons in Belarus.
The Russian President announced in late March that Russian tactical nuclear weapons would be placed in Belarus, with the storage sites for weapons expected to be finished by July 1.
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia had clarified late in March that Russia was not violating its non-proliferation commitments by deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
Washington denounced the plan at the time, with the EU threatening Belarus with sanctions, although the Pentagon and NATO noted that there are no indications that Russia is preparing to use any nuclear weapons.
Belarus previously confirmed that the decision comes in response to years of Western pressure, including sanctions, as well as the military-build up by NATO member states near its borders.
