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Ex-Soviet Republic: Nuclear weapons in Belarus remain under Russian control

Ex-Soviet Republic: Nuclear weapons in Belarus remain under Russian control

Control of the nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus remains in Moscow. “Russia will not hand over nuclear weapons to Belarus,” said Russian Defense Minister Shoigu.

Moscow and Minsk have agreed to station nuclear weapons in the ex-Soviet republic of Belarus while maintaining Russian control. “Russia is not handing over the nuclear weapons to Belarus: control over them and the decision to use them remain with the Russian side,” said Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, according to the Interfax news agency in Minsk at the signing of the contract. The contract regulates the handling of the stationing.

Defense Minister Viktor Chrenin signed the document from the Belarusian side. “Today, the ‘collective’ West is exerting unprecedented pressure on both Belarus and Russia in all areas of national security,” Chrenin said at the signing. Minsk is therefore interested in deepening the partnership with Russia. Belarus is already Russia’s most important ally. Moscow also launched its aggressive war against Ukraine from Belarusian soil.

Putin speaks of an alleged threat from the West

At the end of March, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin announced that Russian tactical nuclear weapons would be stationed in the neighboring country. He justified this with an alleged threat from the West. Later, Belarusian soldiers were trained to use Iskander missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Several Belarusian fighter jets have also been converted to the new weapons.

The Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko later explained that, in an emergency, Minsk could also get strategic nuclear weapons from Moscow – and could decide for themselves whether to use them. However, this is denied by Russia.

Source: Stern

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