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| Could Be World War Three, Russia Starts Spreading Nuclear Weapons to Belarus |
Moscow - Russia's move to start deploying tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus has worried the European Union (EU). Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Moscow's tactical nuclear arsenal was in motion after he said Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed the order. "The movement of nuclear weapons has started," Lukashenko said yesterday.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said the spread of weapons of mass destruction would trigger a further escalation. "This is a step that will lead to a very dangerous escalation," he said in a statement.
The deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons to its ally countries was planned long ago by Putin. The Kremlin leader argued that the West had waged war on Moscow. He also said Russia's steps followed the actions of the United States (US), which had for decades deployed nuclear weapons to five NATO countries in Europe.
On Thursday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said he signed a document in Minsk on the process of storing such weapons in Belarus. Borrell said the decision contravened various international agreements.
“We call on Russia to comply with this commitment. The Belarusian regime is an accomplice in Russia's war of illegal and gratuitous aggression against Ukraine," Borrell added. "We call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately end their support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and reverse decisions that can only contribute to escalating tensions in the region, and undermining Belarusian sovereignty," he said.
He said any attempt to further escalate the situation would be met with a strong and coordinated reaction. Belarus, which is Russia's new nuclear weapons base, shares borders with three NATO members—Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.