According to reports, a senior official from Belarus issued a threat on Sunday. Alexander Volfovich, the state secretary of Belarus’ Security Council, warned Western politicians not to cross strategic “red lines” with Russia. He claimed that the United States had broken an agreement with Belarus and imposed sanctions, despite providing security guarantees in exchange for the removal of nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The official reportedly suggested that Belarus may use recently transported tactical nuclear weapons if needed.
“Today, everything has been torn down,” Volfovich said, according to Reuters. “All the promises made are gone forever.”
Last week, Russia and Belarus agreed to transport an unknown number of nuclear warheads in the allied territory under the control of the Kremlin. According to U.S. officials, Russia has about 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons for military use, including bombs carried by aircraft, short-range missile warheads, and artillery rounds.
President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus stated to reporters in Moscow that the movement of nuclear weapons had already started. It was earlier reported that Belarus allowed the Russian government to use its territory to launch the war in Ukraine in February 2022. According to Volfovich, Belarus officials consider these weapons as one of the steps towards strategic deterrence.
“If there remains any reason in the heads of Western politicians, of course, they will not cross this red line,” he said, adding it “will lead to irreversible consequences” if authorities resort to using tactical nuclear weapons.
Last week, during a briefing, officials from the U.S. State Department criticized Russia for transporting weapons. They called it an example of irresponsible behavior that Russia has been displaying since it invaded Ukraine over a year ago.
“As we have made clear, the use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons in this conflict would be met with severe consequences,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “But in response to this report, I will just add we have seen no reason to adjust our strategic nuclear posture or any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon.”
According to state media, last month Volfovich stated that officials would place tactical or strategic nuclear weapons at Russia’s western border as a way to deter and guarantee the safety of both Russia and Belarus.
“The number of warheads doesn’t matter,” Volfovich said. “What matters is how they will be used and whether they will be used correctly. And we know how to use them. As for whether they will have to be used or not … I don’t think things will go so far that they will need to be used.”
Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, has claimed that the U.S. and its allies have been carrying out an undeclared war against Russia since starting the full-scale conflict in Ukraine. During a meeting with Belarusian officials last week, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu accused the “collective West” of engaging in a proxy war to “prolong and intensify the armed conflict in Ukraine.”
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