President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko announced the completion of deliveries of tactical nuclear weapons for deployment in his country, the first such deployment outside Russia’s borders.
The president spoke at a meeting of the Moscow-led economic bloc in St Petersburg, where he said that the deliveries of tactical nuclear weapons had been completed in October. However, he did not comment on the number of weapons sent or the specific locations where they would be deployed.
Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has announced that shipments of tactical nuclear weapons for deployment in his country are complete, marking the first such placement outside of Russia’s borders.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, Russian nuclear weapons are deployed on Belarusian soil as a means of deterring aggression by NATO member Poland.
Earlier this year, Mr Lukashenko confirmed Russia had moved tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, the first such deployment on foreign soil since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Russia has said it will maintain control over the weapons stationed in Belarus. In May, two countries signed an agreement to transfer the weapons.
The Pentagon criticised the move, calling it “an example of an irresponsible and provocative choice”.
The US estimates that Russia has about 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons, which include bombs that can be carried by aircraft, warheads for short-range missiles and artillery shells. These weapons have a relatively short range and less power than the nuclear warheads mounted on long-range strategic missiles. The United States has approximately 200 of these tactical weapons, half of which are deployed at bases in Europe.
Belarus borders three NATO members – Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Of these, Poland is an active ally of Kyiv and provides its neighbour with military, humanitarian and political support.
