Russia and Belarus Conduct Joint Nuclear Exercises
Russia and Belarus conducted joint nuclear exercises on Monday (18/05). These nuclear drills are being carried out amidst a deadlock with the NATO military alliance and the United States regarding nuclear weapons control.
The exercises follow Russia’s deployment of the Oreshnik—a new hypersonic missile with nuclear capabilities—to Belarusian territory since last year. This deployment is seen as raising the stakes in the competition between Moscow and Western nations.
The Belarusian Ministry of Defence, in a statement reported by AFP on Monday, emphasised that the nuclear exercises do not specifically target any third country. “During the exercises, plans have been made to practise issues related to the delivery of nuclear ammunition and preparations for its use in cooperation with the Russian side,” the Belarusian Ministry of Defence stated.
The previously scheduled exercises, according to the Belarusian Ministry of Defence, “are not aimed at any third country and do not pose a threat to security in the region.” The Ministry added that air and missile forces were involved in the joint nuclear drills.
Belarus, an Eastern European nation governed for over 30 years by Alexander Lukashenko—a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin—remains heavily dependent on Moscow for both economic and military support.
These nuclear exercises come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered his country’s military forces to strengthen the northern border with Belarus last week, citing concerns that Russia is preparing a new offensive from that direction. At the time, Zelensky suggested that Moscow, which utilised Belarus as a base for its 2022 invasion, intends to draw the former Soviet state deeper into the conflict.
Putin, facing a series of setbacks in the invasion which has lasted over four years, has repeatedly employed nuclear rhetoric as the West increases military support for Ukraine. Last week, Moscow tested the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. This test occurred several months after the nuclear limitation agreement with the US expired. The termination of the New START treaty last February officially released Russia and the US—the world’s two largest nuclear powers—from several key restrictions.