Russian tactical nuclear weapons to be deployed across Belarus in the coming days

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on June 13 that Russian tactical nuclear weapons would be deployed on Belarusian territory "in a few days", and if necessary, he also had facilities to store long-range missiles, Reuters reported.

According to President Lukashenko, Russian tactical nuclear weapons will be deployed throughout Belarus. "As soon as we receive them, we will place them throughout Belarus. We have more than enough storage facilities [...] and we will deploy them in different locations. It would be unwise to keep these weapons in just one place," he told Russia's Rossiya-1 TV channel.

Russian tactical nuclear weapons to be deployed in Belarus in the coming days

"Everything is ready. I think we will have what we asked for in the next few days, and even a little more," the Belarusian president added, noting that the deployment of nuclear weapons would serve as a deterrent against external threats.

"It was my request. It was not imposed on me by Russia. Why? Because no one in the world has ever waged war against a nuclear power. And I don't want anyone to wage war against us," said Mr. Lukashenko.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to the press during a visit to the military -industrial complex in Minsk province, Belarus on June 13.

On the same day, June 13, TASS news agency quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying that in the context of the West supporting Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, Moscow has the right to take necessary steps to ensure security for itself and its allies.

She stressed that cooperation between Russia and Belarus in the nuclear sphere, unlike with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries, "is being developed within the Union State [Russia and Belarus], which has a common territory and a common military doctrine."

Earlier, speaking at a meeting with Mr. Lukashenko in Sochi (Russia) on June 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow will retain control of tactical nuclear weapons, and is expected to begin deploying them in Belarus after special storage facilities are ready for operation on July 7-8.

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The move by Russia and Belarus is being closely watched by the United States and its allies. Washington has criticized Mr Putin's decision, but said it had no intention of changing its stance on strategic nuclear weapons and had seen no signs that Russia was preparing to use them.

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