Lukashenko Says Belarus Would Use Nuclear Weapons In Case Of Foreign 'Aggression'

Alexander Lukashenko warned that Belarus would employ nuclear weapons in the event of foreign “aggression” against Minsk.

What Happened: Lukashenko, on Thursday, said his country wouldn’t hesitate to use nuclear weapons supplied by Russia against foreign aggression, CNN reported.

The Belarusian leader’s comments come amid mounting tensions along Belarus’s borders with NATO states.

In an interview with state news agency Belta, Lukashenko stated that Belarus would not engage in the war unless Ukrainians crossed its border. However, he underscored Belarus’s commitment to supporting Russia, their ally. 

"We will keep helping Russia, they are our ally."

He also warned that if provoked, particularly by neighboring NATO countries like Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, Belarus would “immediately respond with everything we have,” including nuclear weapons.

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Why It Matters: Belarus has played a significant role in Russia’s war in Ukraine, serving as a base for Moscow’s 2022 invasion. Moreover, joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises have stoked fears about Belarusian troops joining Russian forces in the conflict.

In June, Russian nuclear warheads were delivered to Belarus for “deterrence,” as Russian President Vladimir Putin stated.

Senior officials from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) expressed that they had “no reason to doubt” Putin’s claim about the transfer of nuclear weapons to Belarus. However, they do not believe Lukashenko would have any control over the arsenal, which Russia would entirely control.

Lukashenko had previously stated that he had the power to veto the use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus. However, he insists that ultimate decision-making power would remain with Putin.

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