In a surprising announcement made during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that the first batch of tactical nuclear weapons has been successfully transported and stored in Belarus. Putin's declaration raises concerns about the escalating tensions in the region, particularly given the history of cooperation between Belarus and Russia.
The development follows a report by Russian state media TASS earlier on Friday, which disclosed that the country's investigative authority had established an office in Belarus in connection to the delivery of these tactical nuclear weapons. Belarus, a neighboring country to Ukraine, has long been considered a close ally of Moscow and played a significant role in supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by facilitating troop movements from the north.
During his address, Putin justified Russia's possession of nuclear weapons, stating that their purpose is to ensure the security and existence of the Russian Federation. Furthermore, he asserted that Russia possesses more tactical nuclear weapons than NATO countries, a claim likely to add to the ongoing discussions about arms reduction. Putin warned that further supply of military weaponry to Ukraine by NATO could escalate the conflict and potentially draw the alliance into direct confrontation.
Responding to the news, US officials from the White House emphasized that there is currently no evidence indicating Russia's imminent use of nuclear weapons. Moreover, they stated that there have been no indications of nuclear weapons being transported within Russia towards Belarus. A spokesperson for the National Security Council emphasized that the United States has not found any reason to alter its nuclear posture.