Russia to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus: Experts warn of dangerous development

Amid fears of an escalation of the Ukraine war, by deploying these weapons in Belarus, which is located at the gates of the European Union, Britain imposed, on Thursday, a new package of sanctions against Minsk, prohibiting the export of goods and technologies to it that could be used to manufacture biological and chemical weapons.

According to Reuters, the new package also includes banning the import of gold, cement, wood and rubber from Belarus and banning the export of banknotes and machinery to it.

Experts who spoke to “Sky News Arabia” attributed Moscow’s deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of its ally, Minsk, to 4 reasons, namely: the Kremlin’s endeavor to undermine Western military support for Ukraine, and to highlight the cards of nuclear power while balancing the military situation against the armed “NATO” forces stationed on the borders. Belarus in Poland, as well as respond to Western provocations.

Russia’s moves anticipate the NATO summit to be hosted next July by neighboring Lithuania, a country located in the Baltic region.

Dangerous development

And the American “IOL” website considered that it would be the first time that Moscow’s warheads have been placed outside Russia’s borders since the fall of the Soviet Union.

As for the British newspaper, The Guardian, it described the decision as a dangerous development in the Kremlin’s position

• Tactical nuclear weapons can be launched by Iskander missiles or by Su-25 aircraft, both of which are available to Belarus.
• This step comes at a time when Russia is preparing for dangerous developments on the battlefield represented by the Ukrainian counter-attack.

As for the French Le Point magazine, it said that these weapons are the smallest atomic bomb in the Russian nuclear arsenal.

• Its placement in Belarus is similar to the storage of similar American bombs in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Turkey and Italy, and they are controlled by Washington.
• Their use can quickly upset the war balance.

Regarding the uses of tactical nuclear weapons, Russian military expert Alexei Sokonkin says that they are used to destroy transportation axes, infantry gatherings, military equipment and vehicles.

• The destructive power of a tactical nuclear weapon is equivalent to 200-300 tons of TNT explosive.
• These weapons are useful in destroying columns of tanks, armored vehicles, bridges, and large concentrations of infantry.

Those weapons will remain under Russian command, according to the Kremlin, whose decision drew criticism from the international community, especially Western countries.

And last April, Russia began training the Belarusian military to use “tactical” nuclear weapons, and Putin announced that 10 aircraft had been equipped in Belarus to use similar weapons.

Escalation or rebalancing?

This decision was preceded by Moscow suspending its participation in the “New START” treaty with the United States of America regarding the reduction of nuclear weapons, which does not specify the number of smaller tactical weapons.

And the Russian expert, Vladimir Igor, considered that the Russian nuclear moves towards Belarus come within the control of the Russian forces.

• It is a response to what the United States did in 2010 by deploying about 100 nuclear bombs in countries surrounding Russia from all directions.
• The Russian move would restore the war balance and send messages to NATO that it cannot remain silent about its threat to Moscow’s national security

Respond to NATO provocations

As for the military expert, Michael Fino, he says that the agreements between Moscow and Minsk on the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus are logical.

• I believe that Russia’s decision to supply tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus is a retaliation for Britain’s decision to supply Ukraine with uranium munitions.
• The critical western reaction to this plan is the policy of “double standards”.
• NATO, led by the United States, has deployed nuclear warheads in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy.

For his part, political expert Kirill Kokesh considered that Russia, by deploying tactical nuclear weapons, is responding to NATO’s repeated provocations since the Ukraine war.

• Russia’s deployment of its weapons in Belarus is directly linked to the Ukrainian war.
• Had it not been for the West’s escalation and the stationing of “NATO” forces on the Belarusian borders in Poland, Russia would not have resorted to that step, according to the Russian “TASS” agency.
• Tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus balance the military situation between NATO and Russia, and would deter Ukraine, Poland and Finland, which are planning a NATO summit in Vilnius in mid-July.