Belarus’ defence minister, Viktor Khrenin, has stated that a revamped defence doctrine will define the country’s position on the use of Russian nuclear weapons stationed on its soil. The Lieutenant General made the remarks to media on Wednesday following a National Security Council meeting.
An update to the country’s defence doctrine has been in the works for months, and the revamped text will provide a fresh perspective on Minsk’s “views regarding peace and war” and the “use of military force to react to existing challenges and threats,” according to Khrenin. He further stated that the new doctrine “clearly defined and communicated Belarus’ views on the use of tactical nuclear weapons stationed on our territory.”
Given that Russia retains authority over the bombs, it was unclear what the agreement would describe specifically in terms of nuclear weapons.
Last year, Moscow stationed nuclear weapons in Belarus after Minsk repeatedly requested it do so. The Belarusian leadership highlighted aggressive Western tactics and the perceived threat posed by US nuclear weapons, which were hosted by several of Washington’s European allies. Russia, for its part, has stated that it is prepared to use any armament at its disposal to defend Belarus in the event of an assault.
According to the minister, the new doctrine would also assert Belarus’ status as a “peaceful” state while openly identifying the threats the country faces.
“We clearly emphasise and state in it that Belarus does not regard any nation as an adversary, regardless of the acts of their governments. “This is the key message, the spirit of the Military Doctrine,” he stated.
Belarus has recently suffered issues with its neighbours, with relations with EU member Poland possibly deteriorating the most. Relations between Warsaw and Minsk deteriorated during Belarus’ 2020 presidential election, which sparked widespread protests in the country. The opposition was publicly supported by Poland and the EU as a whole, and the endeavour continued even after its attempt to depose President Aleksandr Lukashenko failed.
The current crisis between Ukraine and Belarus’ main ally, Russia, has further strained relations between Warsaw and Minsk. Poland was outraged by the decision to host Russian nuclear weapons and has repeatedly accused Belarus of waging hybrid warfare against it, citing the alleged operations of the Wagner Group, a Russian private military organisation that was re-deployed into Belarus last year, near its border.
However, Minsk has constantly denied such charges, maintaining that it has never aspired to end up in a military clash with Warsaw.
