Japan to discuss new sanctions against Belarus with G7

March 28, BPN. Japan will discuss Russia’s plans to base its nuclear weapons in Belarus with its G7 partners and react appropriately, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi has told journalists, Russia’s TASS reported.

In the past, Japan introduced trade restrictions and individual sanctions against Alaksandr Łukašenka and other officials over Belarus’ complicity in Russia’s war on Ukraine, he noted.

On March 27, Hirokazu Matsuno, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, condemned Russia’s plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said Russia’s plans indicate “weakness, not strength.” “Serious sanctions, troop deployments in the Baltics and more air and sea defense systems on the eastern flank of NATO would send a message of solidarity and determination, not fear and prevarication,” he tweeted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Rossiya 24 on March 25 that a special storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons would be completed in Belarus by July 1.