Expert: deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus is symmetrical response to Western countries

It was clear during the Belarusian President’s recent meeting with journalists that the Western media representatives had been prepared and asked questions according to the agenda imposed on them – as noted by the Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee on National Security at the House of Representatives, Igor Martynov. “For example, the topic of nuclear weapons in Belarus was tackled more than once,” he said. “However, at the same time, none of these journalists writes about the US steps that became prerequisites for such a retaliatory step."

The nuclear powers recognised at the official level include Russia, the United States, China, France, and the United Kingdom.

“In Western Europe, nuclear weapons were stored until 1991. During the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Europe, it was agreed that they would be taken to the United States. We have fulfilled our obligations. In particular, we have withdrawn four groups of troops from Europe: the western one from Germany, the northern one from Poland, the central one from Czechoslovakia, and the southern one from Hungary. In return, the United States seemed to withdraw nuclear weapons from Europe, but not for long,” the expert reminded.

A couple of years later, the NATO bloc began to expand to the east. Moreover, the United States again deployed the headquarters of the nuclear weapons command in Germany in 2022, and the relocation of weapons to Europe began.

“They have already been delivered to Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkiye, and deployment in Poland is planned. Therefore, Belarus – like Russia – is now forced to respond to these violations. We do not exclude the possibility that these weapons will be delivered to the Baltic States. We are constantly being teased, but the West should not relax: it is obvious that our countries are determined to withstand such attacks. Therefore, the Head of State stressed, “It seems to me that the war in Ukraine, the special military operation is not and will not be the reason for a nuclear strike from any side. However, if there is an aggression by NATO against Belarus or Russia, which means invading our territory, then our hands will be untied." He also added that ‘in line with the National Security Concept, Russia – and actually Belarus, which today possesses these weapons – will respond. That is why I always openly say: do not touch us, and we will never use this deadly weapon. We will not even fight."