‘No hesitation’ – Belarus names conditions for use of nukes Minsk was the one to ask Russia to share its arsenal and will only agree

‘No hesitation’ – Belarus names conditions for use of nukes
Minsk was the one to ask Russia to share its arsenal and will only agree to its use if attacked, President Lukashenko has said

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said he made a “friendly request” for Russia to store some of its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus as a deterrent. He stated that he would not hesitate to use them if his country is attacked.

“That was my request. Russia didn’t impose it on me,” the Belarusian leader said on Tuesday, as cited by national media. “Nobody has ever gone to war with a nuclear state, and I don’t want anyone to go to war with us. Is there such a threat? Yes. I have to counter this threat.”

Moscow announced its decision to place nuclear weapons in Belarus in March. It argued that it would be no different from what the US has been doing for decades by keeping parts of its nuclear arsenal in non-nuclear nations, such as Türkiye, Belgium or Italy. The US and its allies have disputed that position and accused Russia of recklessness and resorting to nuclear blackmail.

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