Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has threatened to use nuclear weapons against NATO countries if faced with aggression, amid heightened tensions on the country’s border with Poland.
The Belarusian leader warned the West in an interview with the state-run BelTA, saying he would deploy nuclear weapons “immediately as soon as aggression is launched against us.”
‘IIf aggression is launched against our country 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 to the country’s shared NATO border earlier this month. Warsaw said it had violated Polish airspace in exchange for Belarusian helicopters.
Poland’s defense minister said last week that some 10,000 soldiers would eventually be stationed at the border.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (pictured) has threatened to use nuclear weapons against NATO countries if 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 use nuclear weapons against NATO countries if met with aggression faced
A Polish soldier is pictured ahead of a press conference by Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak in Jarylowka, Aug. 12, where he announced that Poland would deploy thousands of troops to the border with pro-Russian Belarus
He continued: “NATO stands with Poland, Lithuania, Latvia. We certainly understand that the powers are incomparable. But we will make an unacceptable attack against them and they will suffer unacceptable damage. Our security concept is based on that.’
Lukashenko – known as “Europe’s last dictator” – said he would not deploy nuclear warheads unless the country was attacked first. But he stressed that he would not hesitate to act immediately if confronted with aggression.
We will not wait and watch. As soon as 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 to scare anyone. Yes, nuclear weapons are a strong deterrent. But these are tactical nuclear weapons, not strategic ones.
“Therefore we will use them immediately as soon as aggression is launched against us.”
He also threatened to attack Ukraine with nuclear weapons if it “commits aggression” and also said that they have “something else besides the nuclear weapons” that they would deploy as well.
“And we will not warn you that we will launch an attack on decision-making centers as soon as you cross the red lines. It will happen without warning. So leave us alone.’
Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems and other armored vehicles drive down a street ahead of a military parade on Victory Day, in Moscow, Russia, May 9. Lukashenko said in June that Belarus had begun receiving Russian tactical nuclear weapons
Polish military personnel attend a press conference of the Polish Defense Minister, where he announced that thousands of troops would be deployed to the border with Belarus.
A Polish border guard patrols the area of a constructed metal wall on the border between Poland and Belarus, near Kuznice, Poland, on June 30, 2022
Although it was announced in June that Russia had delivered tactical nuclear weapons to its ally, it is not known exactly how many nuclear warheads it received.
It comes after China’s defense minister said on Thursday his country would step up military cooperation with Belarus.
Li Shangfu met Lukashenko in Minsk and said: ‘the purpose of my visit to Belarus is precisely the implementation of important agreements at the level of the heads of state and the further strengthening of bilateral military cooperation.’
Neither side gave details of what the cooperation entails, but the two countries have agreed to hold joint military exercises next year.
Li visited Russia just before going to Belarus.
Russian troops deployed in Belarus were part of the Russian invasion force in Ukraine and Russian troops and weapons remain there.
Belarusian troops have not taken part in the war in Ukraine and Lukashenko said on Thursday that China’s military aid would not be directed against third countries.