Belarus: A new military doctrine adopted by Belarus would be the first step towards the country’s nationwide nuclear weapons deployment if it’s approved.
“The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of the Republic of Belarus is considered an important measure of the preventive deterrence for potential adversaries from unleashing armed aggression against the Republic of Belarus,” Belarusian Defense Minister Mr. Viktor Khrenin said. According to him, Belarus was compelled to implement the measure.
To outline the course of action “in the event of armed aggression” against Belarus’ allies in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and the Union State, Mr. Khrenin claims that “a separate chapter was created.”
Like NATO, the six post-Soviet nations that make up the CSTO are dominated by Russia and are obligated to support one another in times of attack.
The six nations—Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Belarus—were formed in 2002. The Union State of Belarus and Russia Treaty establishes the legal framework for the two nations’ extensive alliance.
Regardless of the actions of these nations’ governments, Mr. Khrenin stressed that Belarus “does not treat any nation as its enemy” in light of the new doctrine.”
According to Russian official media RIA Novosti, the doctrine still needs to be approved by the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, a representative body that functions in Belarus concurrently with the parliament. This assembly is scheduled to meet in April.
Mr. Khrenin said the interest of his government lies in “restoring the influence of international security organizations such as the UN, OSCE and others, and their effective functioning in preventing and resolving armed conflicts.”
The restoration of international security organizations’ influence and their efficient operation in averting and ending armed conflicts, according to Khrenin, is in the best interests of his government.”
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