Belarus and Russia Plan To Deploy Tactical Nuclear Weapons Amid Growing Tensions in Europe

Belarus threatened over the weekend that some of Russia’s strategic nuclear weapons and a portion of the Kremlin’s tactical nuclear weapons deployed in the country “could be the next step.” Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin raised the possibility of having some of Russia’s nuclear weapons deployed on the Eastern European territory, a probable “next step” in the continuing Ukrainian war if the West continues on its “hostile path.” 

“We will only respond to force with force. Otherwise, they don’t get it in the West,” Khrenin explained. “We are already preparing the sites that we have.”

Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine all had Soviet nuclear weapons on their soil but turned them over to Russia after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Belarusian air force crews finished conducting tactical nuclear weapons drills last weekend, backed by Russia in its plan to deploy the weapons to its ally Belarus amid fighting in neighboring Ukraine, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

The defense ministry sent a video release of an interview with a Belarusian pilot, saying that the Russia-based training course provided the Belarusian air force with Su-25 ground attack jets and the necessary skills to operate the weapons. Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow intended to station some tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. It was yet another attempt by the Kremlin leader to use the atomic threat to deter Western support for Ukraine.

Russia and Belarus have a union agreement that envisions close political, economic, and military ties. In February 2022, Russian troops used Belarusian territory to roll into Ukraine from the north, and they have maintained a presence in Belarus. The defense ministry stressed that Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus would bring Kremlin’s troops closer to potential targets in Ukraine and NATO members in Eastern and Central Europe. Belarus borders NATO members Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland by 1,250 kilometers (778 miles).

These weapons have a much shorter range and much less power than nuclear warheads fitted to long-range strategic missiles, which can obliterate entire cities. Putin stated that the construction of tactical nuclear weapons storage facilities in Belarus would be completed by July 1. Russia has also assisted Belarus in modernizing its warplanes so that they can carry nuclear weapons and provide the country with Iskander short-range missiles that can be fitted with a nuclear warhead.

Putin has stated that Russia would retain control over any nuclear weapons deployed to Belarus, just as the United States controls its tactical nuclear weapons on NATO allies’ territory.

Lukashenko Greenlights Tactical Nuclear Weapons In Belarus

Russian strategic nuclear weapons and a portion of Russia’s tactical nuclear arsenal could be deployed to Belarus, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said last March 31, flexing his pro-Moscow rhetoric with brewing tensions with Western powers over the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.

Lukashenko echoed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement that his country intends to deploy tactical, relatively short-range, and low-yield nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Strategic nuclear weapons, such as missile-borne warheads mentioned by Lukashenko during his state-of-the-nation address, would pose an even more significant threat if Moscow moved them to its neighbor and ally’s territory.

Belarus was the jumping board and staging area for Russian troops before they invaded Ukraine more than 14 months ago. 

The Belarusian strongman, touted as “the last European dictator” who has been in power since 1994, stands by his Russian ally, whom he says has helped Belarus in the “worst of times.”

“Russia has always met us halfway. Today there is not a single issue that has not been resolved. We meet the Russian Federation halfway in the most difficult moment,” Lukashenko said in a joint press conference with Putin in Belarus last January.  

Both Lukashenko and Putin have claimed that Western powers intend to destabilize Russia and Belarus. Hence, the Belarusian president is convinced that nuclear weapons in his country can protect national security.

“Putin and I will decide and introduce here, if necessary, strategic weapons, and they must understand this, the scoundrels abroad, who today are trying to blow us up from inside and outside,” the Belarusian leader said. “We will protect our sovereignty and independence by any means necessary, including through the nuclear arsenal.”

Belarus is a Loyal Russian Ally 

While Putin has stated that Russia will retain control of the tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus, Lukashenko has said that he will also have his own decision on this matter. 

“Don’t say, ‘We will just be looking after them, and these are not our weapons,'” he told his Belarusian audience. “These are our weapons, and they will contribute to ensuring sovereignty and independence.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Putin’s plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, reflecting Russia’s battlefield setbacks and growing global isolation. 

According to Zelensky, Lukashenko has wholly surrendered to Moscow’s control, adding, “I think he no longer decides which weapons are located on his territory.“

Putin has stated that the construction of tactical nuclear weapons storage facilities in Belarus will be completed by July 1 and that Russia has assisted in modernizing Belarusian warplanes to make them capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Analysts observe that while deploying Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus would bring them closer to potential targets in Ukraine and NATO members in Eastern and Central Europe, the Kremlin would be foolish to deploy any of its strategic nuclear-tipped missiles on Belarusian soil. These missiles have an intercontinental range and can reach any target on the planet from their bases in Russia.

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who was forced to flee the country under official pressure after challenging Lukashenko in the rigged 2020 presidential election, slammed Lukashenko’s push for hosting Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus as a betrayal of national interests.

“Russia’s deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus directly violates the constitution of Belarus and grossly contradicts the will of the Belarusian people to assume the non-nuclear state status expressed in the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Belarus of 1990,” Tsikhanouskaya said. This unacceptable development, making Belarus a potential target for preventive or retaliation strikes, became possible because of the illegal seizure of power by the illegitimate regime of Lukashenko.”

European Union Warns of Sanctions For Belarus

European Union (EU) Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrel warned Belarus that it could face additional sanctions if it hosted Russian nuclear weapons. 

“Belarus hosting Russian nuclear weapons would mean an irresponsible escalation and threat to European security. Belarus can still stop it. It is their choice. The EU is ready to respond with further sanctions,” Borrell tweeted.

According to the Federation of American Scientists, Moscow has 5,977 nuclear warheads in its arsenal and has long had the capability to strike a target anywhere in the world. The United States has slightly fewer, at 5,428.

However, the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation said that approximately 100 US nuclear weapons are stored in Europe across six bases in five countries, despite remaining under US control.

Putin Wants Nukes in Belarus

Putin earlier stated that the move was prompted by the United Kingdom’s decision to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium armor-piercing shells, widely regarded as toxic.

He said that “the trigger was the statement by the British deputy minister of defense that they are going to supply depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine; this is somehow related to nuclear technology.”

“Those weapons are harmful not just for combatants, but also for the people living in those territories and the environment,” he said in a previous statement.

Putin contended that deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is no different than the US storing nuclear weapons in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, and Turkey.

“There is nothing unusual here either: firstly, the United States have been doing this for decades. They have long ago deployed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allied countries, NATO countries, in Europe, in six states. If memory serves, this is Germany, Turkey, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and Greece. We are going to do the same thing. This is exactly what Alexander Grigoryevich (Lukashenko) has asked for.“

Tactical nuclear weapons have a short range and are designed primarily for use on the battlefield. They have a low yield compared to more powerful nuclear warheads deployed by long-range missiles. According to the Russian president, the decision does not violate existing nuclear nonproliferation treaties.

It would be the first time Russia has stationed nuclear weapons outside its borders since 1996. There were nuclear weapons within the borders of Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, but they have since been returned to Russia.