Belarus may accept Russian nukes, Łukašenka’s top diplomat says

September 26, BPN. The Belarusian foreign minister has made it clear that Belarus may host Russian nuclear weapons.

Asked by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti if Belarus is ready to host Russian nuclear weapons, Uładzimr Makiej said: “If the situation requires, our countries will be ready to take the most decisive steps to ensure reliable security for our countries and peoples.”

“Everything will depend on the behavior of our partners, on those immediate threats to Belarus and Russia,” he said.

Makiej recalled that Alaksandr Łukašenka and Vladimir Putin had stated that certain types of Belarusian aircraft might be re-equipped to carry nuclear bombs. “Other options are possible,” he added.

At the same time, he argued that there was no need for additional Russian military bases in Belarus. “It is enough to station relevant hardware in [Russia’s] Smolensk region or elsewhere, and it may have a greater effect than the deployment of specific Russian bases to Belarus,” Makiej said.