Biden slams Russian nuclear deployment to Belarus

May 27, BPN. US President Joe Biden has criticized Russia’s move to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, which, according to international campaigners, increases the chances of a nuclear strike.

Speaking to reporters in Washington yesterday, Biden said that his reaction to the move was “extremely negative.”

Minsk gave up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons and joined an international nonproliferation treaty in the 1990s.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in March that Russia was planning to deploy nuclear arms to Belarus, pointing to the United States having them in several allied countries.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed this week that Moscow alone would control the weapons and decide on their use. Belarusian ruler Alaksandr Łukašenka said the transfer had already begun.

White House spokesperson Karin Jean-Pierre said the United States saw no indication that Russia was “preparing to use nuclear weapons for Belarus.”