Lukashenko: Belarus Will Use Russian Nuclear Weapons in Case of 'Foreign Aggression'

Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, announced that his country would use nuclear weapons provided by Russia in response to 'foreign aggressions.' Lukashenko assured that Belarus would support Russia but would not take action as long as Ukraine does not violate its borders. According to CNN, Lukashenko warned that if provoked—especially by NATO members such as Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia—Belarus would quickly respond using its tactical nuclear arsenal. The report states that Belarus has played a central role in Russia's war in Ukraine, and Russian nuclear warheads have reportedly been sent to Belarus for 'deterrence.' Meanwhile, the extent of the transfer of Russia's nuclear arsenal to Belarus remains unclear, and U.S. officials have not confirmed the movement, although the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency corroborates Putin's claims. Experts believe that Belarus's security posture has become more complicated with the entry of Russian Wagner mercenaries within its borders. Recently, Voice of America reported that Russia deployed its tactical nuclear missiles in Belarus amid the Ukraine war, prompting German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to highlight NATO's support for Poland—an ally in NATO. Earlier, Voice of America reported that Russia began deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus in 2023, which borders Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia—three NATO member states. Hossein Hassan-Yari, a military expert, stated that the cooperation between Iran and Belarus is aimed at opposing the West. The presence of Wagner military mercenaries near the Polish borders has raised concerns, with the Polish Prime Minister noting that Wagner mercenaries have gotten closer to the Polish border. Putin, in a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, stated that Ukraine's counteroffensive has failed, and any aggression by Poland against Belarus would be equivalent to an attack on Russia.