Poland's President Andrzej Duda confirmed Tuesday that Russia has begun shifting some short-range nuclear weapons to neighboring Belarus. This move, he said, will change "the architecture of security in our part of Europe," affecting the region's security dynamics and the NATO alliance, as reported by ABC News.
Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko stated last month that Moscow had already transported some of its tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. This action was initially announced in March. However, the U.S. and NATO have not verified the relocation.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg criticized Moscow's rhetoric as "dangerous and reckless." Nonetheless, he stated in July that the alliance hadn't observed any shifts in Russia's nuclear posture.
Tactical nuclear weapons, with their limited range and lower yield compared to those on long-range missiles, are designed for battlefield use. Russia confirmed its intent to maintain control over the weapons transferred to Belarus.
Officials in Moscow and Minsk suggested that Belarusian Su-25 ground attack aircraft could potentially carry the warheads, or they might be fitted onto short-range Iskander missiles.
Duda shared these remarks during a joint news conference with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, stating, "Indeed, this process is taking place, we are seeing that." He refrained from providing further details but emphasized that the ongoing changes were visibly altering the security landscape in their part of Europe, as reported by the AP.
"It is changing the architecture of security in our immediate neighborhood, but also of the eastern flank of NATO, at the same time. So, in fact, it is changing the situation for all of the alliance," he said.
Lukashenko stated that hosting Russian nuclear weapons in his country aims to discourage aggression from NATO member Poland, even though Poland has not made such threats. Poland is providing military, humanitarian, and political support to Ukraine in its conflict against Russia's invasion. Additionally, Poland is involved in international sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
Duda also commended the recent approval by the U.S. State Department for the possible sale of 96 Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters to Poland. This sale would significantly enhance Poland's and NATO's defense capabilities and demonstrate the special relationship between Washington and Warsaw, as reported by ABC News.
De Sousa pledged ongoing support for Ukraine's struggle and for other countries in the region, underlining that developments on Eastern Europe's borders are as important to Portugal as those closer to home.
"We are united, we stand in solidarity, without any hesitations, and I have duly taken note of the Polish concerns over what may be understood as the need to be closely watching any moves that may question the eastern borders of the European Union or of NATO," de Sousa remarked.
"We are vigilant, we stand in solidarity, and we are operational," said de Sousa.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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