Russian and Belarusian fighter jets during a joint exercise in February 2022. NATO’s aggression has forced Belarus to host Russian nuclear weapons on its territory, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Archive photo: AP / NTB
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28. mars 2023 10:16 – Updated 28 March 2023 10:16
Aggressive actions by NATO countries that threaten Belarus’ security have forced the country to host Russian nuclear weapons, Belarusian authorities say.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry further states that the Russian plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus will not be in violation of international agreements on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, because Belarus will not have control over the weapons, reports the Russian news agency Tass.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that ten aircraft capable of being equipped with tactical nuclear weapons had already been moved to Belarus, and that more weapons were on their way. The plans have been met with EU threats of new sanctions against Belarus, and Ukraine has asked for an emergency meeting at the UN.
In addition, a number of Western countries have come forward with sharp criticism, among them Norway. State Secretary Eivind Vad Pettersson (Ap) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says in a statement that Norway “condemns Russia’s war against Ukraine in the strongest terms”, and that Belarus bears great responsibility for having made territory available.
– Russian statements about plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus are yet another irresponsible signal from Russia. Together with allies and close partners, we are following the further development closely, says Pettersson to NTB.
