In a significant demonstration of military strength and geopolitical signaling, Russia and Belarus have embarked on joint tactical nuclear exercises. The coordinated drills, explicitly tied to what Moscow has deemed “provocative statements” by Western leaders.
On May 7, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a directive for the Russian General Staff to initiate exercises focusing on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons. This decision came as a response to recent approvals of Western aid packages to Ukraine and increasing discussions among Western politicians about possible troop deployments to the region. The exercises involve elements of the Southern Military District and the Russian Navy, aiming to ensure the operational readiness of Russia’s non-strategic nuclear arsenal. The Ministry of Defense emphasized that these drills are crucial for maintaining Russia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in the face of what it perceives as escalating threats from Western capitals.
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov clarified the rationale behind these maneuvers, stating they were directly influenced by remarks from Western leaders about sending troops to Ukraine. Notably, U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries suggested that the United States had not ruled out this possibility, and French President Emmanuel Macron vocalized the need for Western military intervention to thwart Russia’s advances. The British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, further inflamed tensions by asserting Ukraine’s right to use British-supplied weapons against Russian targets.
The Kremlin’s response to these Western statements was swift and unequivocal. The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed in a statement that these exercises were meant to cool down “hotheads” in Western capitals and help them “realize the possible catastrophic consequences of the strategic risks they generate”. Deputy Head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev hinted that sending Western troops would entail the direct entry of their countries into the war, to which Russia would have to respond, potentially with nuclear strikes on the United States, France, and England.
In this context, increased Belarusian involvement looks inevitable. Speaking at a solemn meeting on May 7 in honor of Victory Day, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka warned Western countries that their capitals are legitimate targets for nuclear strikes in the event of a “decision to commit aggression.” Simultaneously, he announced a surprise inspection of the regional group of Belarusian and Russian forces. The joint command plans to work out the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus for the first time.
Relevant articles:
– Russia and Belarus Hold Joint Non-Strategic Nuclear Exercises (Part One) – Jamestown , The Jamestown Foundation, 05/24/2024
– Putin Orders Tactical Nuclear Weapons Drills in New Meltdown, Yahoo News UK, 05/22/2024
– Putin says there is ‘nothing unusual’ about tactical nuclear weapons drill, AOL, 05/22/2024
– Russia starts exercise with tactical nuclear weapons, CTV News, 05/21/2024
– Belarus conducts tactical nuclear inspection together with Russia, Yahoo News Canada, 05/21/2024
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