Russia takes next step in deploying nuclear weapons in Belarus, why Minsk?

On May 25, the defense ministers of Russia and Belarus signed a document on the deployment of Moscow's tactical nuclear weapons in the neighboring country.

Nga đi bước tiếp trong việc triển khai vũ khí hạt nhân ở Belarus, tại sao lại là Minsk? (Nguồn: Bộ Quốc phòng Nga)

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. (Source: Russian Defense Ministry )

Moscow's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is due to rising tensions with the West, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

TASS news agency quoted Mr. Shoigu as emphasizing: "In the context of extremely serious escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus, the decision was made to take countermeasures in the military- nuclear sphere."

Russia's defense chief also accused the West of waging an "undeclared war" against the country and Belarus.

On March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country had signed an agreement on the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of neighboring Belarus, an issue that his counterpart Alexander Lukashenko had long raised.

The Russian leader stressed that such a move does not violate nuclear non-proliferation agreements.

Russia will complete construction of a tactical nuclear weapons storage facility in Belarus by July 1 and will not actually transfer control of nuclear weapons to Minsk.

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