The United States began to worry that Russia would deploy nuclear weapons in
a neighboring country; Belarusian. This concern could have arisen because
Minsk's new draft constitution does allow it.
Washington's concerns were conveyed by top State Department officials as the
United States and Russia seek to reach an agreement on European security
guarantees.
"The proposed constitutional amendments may indicate Belarus's plans
to allow Russian conventional and nuclear forces to be deployed on its
territory," an unnamed US State Department official said at a closed-door
briefing Tuesday Washington time.
According to the official, such a move would pose a challenge to European
security and might require a response from the West. "Reports of the
movement of Russian troops towards Belarus, whose movements are suspected to
be under the auspices of regularly scheduled joint military exercises, are
concerning," he said.
On Monday, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko announced that his country
and Russia would hold joint military exercises near NATO's eastern border
and Ukraine in February.
"What is noteworthy is that when this happens, it certainly raises concerns
that Russia may intend to deploy troops to Belarus under the guise of
training to potentially attack Ukraine from the north," the US State
Department official said.
"For Belarus to be involved in such an attack is completely unacceptable."
However, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the Federation Council
for Moscow International Relations; Vladimir Dzhabarov, said that there are
currently no plans for Russia to deploy its nuclear weapons on Belarusian
territory.
“Lukashenko has suggested that, if necessary, Russian nuclear forces be
deployed on Belarusian territory. But as far as I know, this has not
continued the previous talks, there are no negotiations," he said, as quoted
by Russia Today, Thursday (20/1/2022).
The concerns from Washington came after Belarus announced proposed
amendments to the country's constitution last month. An article in the
current constitution, which stipulates that Belarus aims to make its
territory a nuclear-free zone, and a neutral state, appears to have been
removed.
However, in the latest draft the article has been replaced with a clause
that excludes military aggression from its territory against other
countries, opening up speculation that Minsk could allow nuclear warheads to
be placed in the country.
In late November, Lukashenko said Russia would have to deploy nuclear
warheads on Belarusian territory if NATO nuclear weapons advanced eastward
through Europe.
