Belarus has started joint nuclear weapons drills with Russia, aimed at improving armed forces readiness to use modern means of destruction, including special ammunition. The exercises include testing operations from unplanned locations across Belarus. The drills are framed as routine training but carry strategic implications amid deepening nuclear cooperation between Moscow and Minsk. Russia deployed tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus in 2023 and has held repeated joint exercises since. Ukraine views the timing as sensitive, warning Russia seeks to draw Belarus into the war through staging grounds for renewed offensives or sustained pressure on Kyiv and northern regions. Ukraine condemns the drills as undermining non-proliferation and turning Belarus into a nuclear bridgehead near NATO borders.
"Belarus has begun joint nuclear weapons drills with Russia in a move that will intensify fears in Kyiv and across NATO that Moscow is tightening its grip over its smaller neighbour and expanding its nuclear reach on Europe's doorstep."
"The Belarusian defence ministry said the exercises are designed "to improve the readiness of the armed forces to use modern means of destruction, including special ammunition", and will include testing the ability to conduct operations from "unplanned" locations across the country."
"While framed as routine readiness training, the drills carry clear strategic weight. They come after two years of steadily deepening nuclear cooperation between Moscow and Minsk, including Russia's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus in 2023 and repeated joint exercises since."
"The Foreign Ministry in Kyiv condemned the exercises, accusing Russia and Belarus of undermining the global non-proliferation regime and turning Belarus into what it described as a "nuclear bridgehead" on NATO's borders. It warned the drills set a "dangerous precedent" by involving a non-nuclear state in preparations linked to nuclear weapons use."
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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