Belarus leader Lukashenko threatens to nuke NATO nations if he is faced with ‘aggression’
- Poland is planning to send some 10,000 soldiers to the border with Belarus
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has threatened to deploy nuclear weapons on NATO nations if he is faced with aggression, amid heightened tension on the country’s border with Poland.
Warning the West in an interview with state-run BelTA, the Belarusian leader said he would deploy nuclear weapons ‘immediately once aggression is launched against us’.
‘If aggression against our country is launched from the side of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, we will immediately respond with everything we have,’ he said.
‘And the strike will be unacceptable.’
Poland accused Minsk of violating its airspace and responded by announcing it would deploy thousands of troops at the shared NATO border with the country earlier this month. Warsaw in return said to Belarusian helicopters violated Polish airspace.
Poland’s defence minister said last week some 10,000 soldiers would eventually be stationed on the border.
Belaurs President Alexander Lukashenko (pictured) has threatened to deploy nuclear weapons on NATO nations if he is faced with aggression
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (left) gives an interview to Diana Panchenko (right), a pro-Russian Ukrainian journalist, in Minsk, Belarus, where he threatened to deploy nuclear weapons on NATO nations if he is faced with aggression
A Polish serviceman is pictured ahead of a press conference of Poland’s Minister of Defense, Mariusz Blaszczak, in Jarylowka, August 12, where he announced Poland was deploying thousands of troops to its border with pro-Russian Belarus
He continued: ‘NATO stands behind Poland, Lithuania, Latvia. We certainly understand that the forces are incomparable. But we will deliver an unacceptable strike against them and they will receive unacceptable harm, damage. It is what our security concept is based on.’
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Lukashenko – known as ‘Europe’s last dictator’ – said he would not deploy nuclear warheads unless the country was attacked first. But he stressed he would not hesitate to act immediately if met with aggression.
We will not tarry and watch. Once aggression is committed against us, we will follow the plan,’ he said.
‘We will respond with everything we have. And we didn’t bring nuclear weapons here in order to scare someone. Yes, nuclear weapons represent a strong deterring factor. But these are tactical nuclear weapons, not strategic ones.
‘This is why we will use them immediately once aggression is launched against us.’
He also threatened a strike Ukraine with nuclear weapons if it ‘commits aggression’ and said he also says they have ‘something else in addition to the nuclear weapons’ that they would also deploy.
‘And we will not warn you that we will deliver a strike on decision-making centers once you cross red lines. It will be done without a warning. This is why leave us alone.’
Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems and other armoured vehicles drive along a street before a military parade on Victory Day, in Moscow, Russia, May 9. Lukashenko in June said Belarus had started taking delivery of Russian tactical nuclear weapons
Polish servicemen attend a press conference of Poland’s Minister of Defense where he announced thousands of troops would be deployed on its border with Belarus, calling it a deterrent move as tensions between the neighbors ratchet up
A Polish border guard patrols the area of a built metal wall on the border between Poland and Belarus, near Kuznice, Poland, on June 30, 2022
While it was announced in June that Russia had delivered tactical nuclear weapons to its ally, it is unknown as to the specific number of warheads it received.
It comes after China’s Defense Minister on Thursday said his country would increase military cooperation with Belarus.
Li Shangfu met with Lukashenko in Minsk and said ‘the purpose of my visit to Belarus is precisely the implementation of important agreements at the level of heads of state and the further strengthening of bilateral military cooperation.’
Neither side gave details of what the cooperation will entail, but the two countries have agreed to hold joint military exercises next year.
Li visited Russia just before going to Belarus.
Russian troops that were deployed in Belarus were part of Russia’s invading force in Ukraine and Russian troops and weapons remain there.
Belarusian forces have not taken part in the Ukraine war and Lukashenko on Thursday said China’s military assistance would not be directed against third countries.
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