Published 17:00 IST, May 28th 2023

Belarus to host Russian tactical nuclear weapons on its soil; here's why this happened

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in late March that Minsk and Moscow had reached an agreement to station Russia's tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Reported by: Vidit Baya
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Fighters of the Russian and Belarusian air forces fly in a joint mission during the Union Courage-2022 Russia-Belarus military drills in Belarus (Image Credit: AP) | Image: self
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Earlier this week in Minsk, Belarus, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu and his Belarusian counterpart Viktor Khrenin signed a number of contracts outlining process for preserving Russia's non-strategic nuclear weapons at a designated storage facility on Belarusian soil. 

Prior to that, Russian President Vlimir Putin said in late March that Minsk and Moscow h reached an agreement to station Russia's tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a move that, in his words, does not violate Russia's nuclear non-proliferation contracts, Sputnik reported. Russian Ambassor to Belarus stated that tactical nuclear weapons would be placed closer to western boundaries of Union State of Belarus and Russia.

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"I would like to note that all activities are organised strictly in accordance with existing international obligations and do not violate Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,” Shoigu said. 

Belarus forced to strengn its own security

Belarusian Foreign Ministry in a statement said, "Over last two and a half years, Republic of Belarus has been subjected to unprecedented political, economic and information pressure from United States, United Kingdom and its NATO allies, as well as member states of European Union."

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It ded that "In view of se circumstances, and legitimate concerns and risks in sphere of national security arising from m, Belarus is forced to respond by strengning its own security and defence capabilities."

British government's decision to give Ukraine armour-piercing shells containing depleted Uranium, which Russian president said was "one way or anor related to nuclear technology," was highlighted as immediate cause for deployment of Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNP) in Belarus.

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What is a Tactical Nuclear Weapon?

goal of tactical nuclear weapons is to eliminate enemy forces and equipment on battlefield. y are far less effective and have a much shorter range than nuclear warhes mounted on long-range strategic missiles that can destroy entire cities.  number of tactical weapons or any or information about m has not been disclosed by Russia, AP reported.

Russian tactical nuclear weapons are believed to number over 2,000, and y comprise bombs that may be carried by planes, warhes for short-range missiles, and artillery rounds. Tactical nuclear weapons are kept at a small number of closely guarded storage locations in Russia, and it takes time to get m to combat units, whereas strategic nuclear weapons are mounted on land- or submarine-based intercontinental ballistic missiles that are constantly prepared for launch.

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Russian hawks have long pushed Kremlin to move some tactical nuclear warhes closer to aircraft and missiles designed to deliver m as a signal to West.

17:00 IST, May 28th 2023