Russia’s nuclear rhetoric is harmful and irresponsible, says Nato

The Nato stated it’s monitoring the scenario intently after Russian President Vladimir Putin stated Moscow will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which has borders with three Nato members – Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Brussels,UPDATED: Mar 26, 2023 19:15 IST

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a joint assertion with Chinese President Xi Jinping following their talks on the Kremlin in Moscow. (Photo: Reuters)

By Reuters: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) on Sunday criticised Russia for its “dangerous and irresponsible” nuclear rhetoric, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin stated Russia would station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.

“Nato is vigilant, and we are closely monitoring the situation. We have not seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture that would lead us to adjust our own,” a Nato spokesperson stated.

“Russia’s reference to Nato’s nuclear sharing is totally misleading. Nato allies act with full respect of their international commitments. Russia has consistently broken its arms control commitments, most recently suspending its participation in the New START Treaty.”

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Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus, President Vladimir Putin stated on Saturday, marking the primary time for the reason that mid-Nineties that Moscow could have based mostly such arms exterior the nation.

Vladimir Putin made the announcement at a time of rising tensions with the West over the Ukraine struggle and as some Russian commentators speculate about attainable nuclear strikes.

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“Tactical” nuclear weapons confer with these used for particular positive factors within the battlefield quite than these with the capability to wipe out cities. It is unclear what number of such weapons Russia has, given it’s an space nonetheless shrouded in Cold War secrecy.

Putin didn’t specify when the weapons can be transferred to Belarus, which has borders with three Nato members – Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Russia and Belarus have a detailed army relationship and Minsk allowed Moscow to make use of Belarusian territory to ship troops into Ukraine final yr. This January, the 2 nations stepped up joint army coaching.

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Published On:

Mar 26, 2023