Russia Rejects Joe Biden's Criticism of Nuclear Weapons Deployment in Belarus

The Russian embassy in the United States rejected President Joe Biden's criticism of Moscow's plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus on Saturday. According to Reuters, Russia stated on Thursday that for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, it would deploy nuclear weapons outside its borders, and Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, said these weapons are being sent to his country. Joe Biden expressed a 'strongly negative' reaction to this Russian action on Friday, and the U.S. State Department condemned it as well. In a statement on Saturday, the Russian embassy in Washington stated: 'It is the sovereign right of Russia and Belarus to ensure their security through the means they deem necessary amid a broad hybrid war initiated by Washington against them.' The embassy claimed: 'The actions we are taking are fully consistent with our international legal obligations.' According to Reuters, in another part of this statement, the United States was accused of maintaining a large nuclear arsenal in Europe for several decades and training scenarios for the use of nuclear weapons against Russia. The United States has emphasized that due to Vladimir Putin's statements during the Ukraine war, the world faces the greatest nuclear threat since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. However, Moscow claims its positions have been misinterpreted. Russia invaded Ukraine in February of last year and currently occupies parts of the country. The Russian President, who has framed the invasion of Ukraine as a battle for Russia's survival against the West, has repeatedly warned that his country will use any means necessary to defend itself. Russia possesses more nuclear weapons than any other country in the world. Tactical nuclear weapons are used for tactical victories on the battlefield and typically have less impact compared to strategic nuclear weapons. In 1954, the United States first deployed its nuclear weapons in Britain to counter Soviet threats. Most information about the current deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe is classified, but the Federation of American Scientists has stated that 100 U.S. B61 tactical nuclear bombs are stationed in Italy, Germany, Turkey, Belgium, and the Netherlands.