Lukashenko: Belarus does not need strategic nuclear weapons

MINSK, 16 February (BelTA) – Belarus does not need strategic nuclear weapons, the country is not going to strike at America, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he talked to foreign and Belarusian journalists in Minsk on 16 February, BelTA has learned.

Answering one of the questions, the head of state noted that nuclear weapons are divided into tactical and strategic. “We absolutely do not need strategic weapons. We are not going to kill the Americans and launch nuclear strategic missiles from the territory of Belarus,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He recalled that when he became president, nuclear weapons were withdrawn from Belarus as the Americans insisted. “We had the most modern Topol-M. We had the most modern weapons here. We agreed to abandon them against the guarantees of the Americans, Europeans and Russians that they would never encroach on our sovereignty and independence, would never impose economic sanctions on us. This arrangement was formalized. They [the West] disregarded it, trampled on it, they are using sanctions against us. They strangle us wherever possible, in violation of that treaty. Had we had these nuclear weapons, they would not have talked to us like that. So, everyone understands only force,” the head of state said.

“Therefore, we do not need strategic nuclear weapons. We are not going to strike at America and even at European countries. But what we are talking about now are tactical nuclear weapons. The aircraft that can carry tactical nuclear weapons should be prepared,” the president explained.

He said that the aircraft are ready to move special weapons; the pilot unit is also prepared. “We have had these aircraft ready to transport these weapons since Soviet times. And we quickly trained people,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.