On Sunday 26 March, the European Union and NATO condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement to transfer Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. According to Putin, a storage centre for the weapons will be ready by July.
“Belarus hosting Russian nuclear weapons would mean an irresponsible escalation & threat to European security. Belarus can still stop it, it is their choice”, EU High Representative Josep Borrell stressed on Twitter. According to the European External Action Service spokesperson, Minsk has not yet confirmed the transfer.
In the event of a transfer, Borrell warned that the EU was ready to respond with new sanctions.
For its part, NATO, through its spokeswoman Oana Lungescu, described Russia’s nuclear rhetoric as “dangerous and irresponsible”. Warning that the Alliance was vigilant and monitoring the situation closely, she said NATO had not seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture that would prompt Allies to adjust theirs.
Ms Lungescu criticised Putin’s comments comparing the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus to the stationing of nuclear weapons by the United States in Europe within the framework of NATO. “Russia’s reference to NATO’s nuclear sharing is totally misleading. NATO allies act with full respect of their international commitments”, she said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)