NATO On High Alert As Russia Transfers Nuclear Missiles
The News+: Putin-Lukashenko Ties
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August 24, 2023
NATO’s Alarm Grows By the Russian Influence Expanding
President Andrzej Duda of Poland announced on Tuesday the unsettling confirmation of Russia's strategic maneuver to relocate short-range nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus.
The situation puts the NATO alliance on high-alert as the Kremlin's hold in the region surrounding Ukraine has been seen to "strenghthen" in recent weeks, Foreign Policy noted in an analysis on August 22.
The transfer of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus marks a substantial shift in the security dynamics of the Eastern European region.
The News+
Snapshot of Putin-Lukashenko Ties
Ties between the Russian leader and the Belarusian president have been under intense scrutiny since the Wagner PMC revolted in Moscow earlier this summer. Lukashenko was seen as a mediator in the feud between Putin and the late
Wagner PMC chief Yevgeny Prigozhin. Putin had earlier suggested that Prigozhin be killed, which Lukashenko initial talked him out of, The New York Times reported. Since that time, Prigozhin, along with a list of his close associates, died in a fatal plane crash above Moscow.
While Putin and Lukashenko have established ties, they reportedly have a “love-hate relationship”. Belarus is sometimes referred to as the “puppet” of Russia because of its relationship with the Kremlin. Lukashenko has been referred to as Putin’s “stooge” and political analysts debate whether he is responsible for keeping the Russian leader in power.
The two leaders have, in recent news, had a “tense” relationship, as some analysts speculate whether Lukashenko is looking to “repair ties with the West” amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
However, comments Lukashenko has made in the press show that he is united with Putin in the front against Ukraine.
Now, back to the news…
Officials Yet To Announce the Missile Transfer
While Moscow's announcement in March hinted at the nuclear missile move, it was only in July that both Putin and Lukashenko openly acknowledged the transfer. Surprisingly, neither the United States nor NATO has offered official validation of this alarming development.
The implications of Russia's strategic repositioning were met with a mix of concern and condemnation from the international community. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg criticized Moscow's rhetoric as "dangerous and reckless," emphasizing the potential consequences of such actions.
However, Stoltenberg clarified that, as of July, there was no concrete evidence of any alteration in Russia's “nuclear posture.”
Tactical nuclear weapons are uniquely designed for deployment on the battlefield, featuring a limited range and a lower yield when compared to the more potent nuclear warheads utilized on long-range missiles. Russia's commitment to retaining control over the relocated weapons did little to ease global anxiety.
Notably, Moscow and Minsk have suggested the weapons could potentially be transported by Belarusian Su-25 ground attack aircraft or integrated into short-range Iskander missiles. This adaptability raises questions about the strategic intentions behind this relocation and intensifies concerns about the potential impact on regional stability.
President Duda's announcement took place during a joint press conference alongside Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The timing of this revelation in the presence of an international audience further emphasizes Poland's commitment to transparency and its desire to garner support for a united response.