Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has warned that Belarus, Russia’s closest ally and staunch supporter of Moscow’s attack on Ukraine, would not hesitate to deploy nuclear weapons if it felt threatened by “Western madness”.
Lukashenko, Belarus’ head of state since 1994, told state-controlled news agency Belta on Thursday that Belarus would carry out “unacceptable strikes” against any force believed to threaten its territorial integrity.
“If the Polish, Lithuanian, Latvian sides launch aggression against our country, we will immediately make every effort to respond,” he said. “They will suffer unacceptable harm and damage.”
He said this would happen even though Belarus realized its military could not compete with the power of NATO, which includes Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, which share borders with Belarus.
“Nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus will never be used unless we face aggression,” Lukashenko said. “(But) if there is an act of aggression against us … we will use all our weapons.”
Russia June says It has begun to deliver tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, saying that these weapons have been stationed in Belarus For “deterrence”.
later us president joe biden warn The threat of Russia using nuclear weapons is “real”.
Lukashenko said the weapons were not being brought to his country to “scare” anyone, but said he was willing to use them if countries outside Ukraine were seen as aggression.
“Don’t bother us,” he warned. “We left you alone, and you should leave us alone. I mean Ukraine first. I mean mostly those lunatics in the West.”
Representatives of Lukashenko and the Belarusian government did not respond wealthrequest for comment.
A spokesman for NATO, a military alliance with 31 members including the United States, Britain, France and Germany, could not immediately be reached for comment.
russian nuclear threat
Lukashenko’s threat to deploy nuclear weapons builds on a series of warnings from the Kremlin on its willingness to deploy nuclear weapons.
In a televised speech last September, putin warning If Russian territory is threatened, his government “will certainly use all means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people.”
“This is not a bluff,” he warned.
last monthFormer Russian president and current vice-chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said the Russian government would use nuclear weapons if the counteroffensive in Kiev was successful.
“Imagine if the NATO-backed offensive is successful and they take away part of our land. Then we will be forced to use nuclear weapons according to the rules of the Russian presidential decree,” he posted on the Telegram messaging app.
“There is simply no other option,” he added. “So our enemies should pray for our fighters. They are making sure that the global nuclear fire is not ignited.”
Who is Aleksandr Lukashenko?
Belarusian President Lukashenko has long enjoyed ” Europe’s last dictatorThanks fraudulent electioncharge human rights violation and imprisoning political opponents,as well as persecution of journalists Who criticizes his regime.
Under his leadership, the former Soviet state of Belarus has grown closer to its neighbor Russia. In 1999, the two countries Formation of the “United Nations” Consolidate the economic cooperation between the two countries.
Recently, Lukashenko made it clear that Belarus is a loyal political and military ally of Russia and its President Vladimir Putin.
Moscow has assembled thousands of troops on the Ukrainian border in early 2022, sparking global speculation that Russia is about to illegally invade neighboring Lukashenko deploy special forces To the southern border of Belarus with Ukraine.Russia and Belarus also hold joint military exercises Close to the common border of Belarus and Ukraine.
After Russia launched the so-called “special operation” Use Belarus as a launch pad Send soldiers to attack Ukraine.
Since both countries have been slapped in the face Western sanctions Their economic alliance strengthened because of Ukraine war Trade between currency pairs has increased.
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