{"id":117137,"date":"2024-12-07T13:54:04","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T10:54:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/117137\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"us-think-tank-russia-moving-to-annex-belarus-via-union-state","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/117137\/","title":{"rendered":"US think tank: Russia moving to annex Belarus via Union State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Russian tactical nuclear weapons \n <\/div>\n \n
\n (mil.ru)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

December 7, <\/strong>Pozirk.<\/strong> <\/em>The Kremlin continues to use the Union State of Belarus and Russia as a tool for the de facto annexation of Belarus and expansion of its military presence in the country, says<\/a> a recent analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This conclusion is based on yesterday’s approval of the security guarantees deal between both countries by Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Union State Supreme State Council meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement provides for the use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus in case of aggression against Belarus. It is aligned with the recently updated Russian nuclear doctrine, “which formally placed Belarus under Russia’s nuclear umbrella and [is] consistent with Russia\u2019s existing treaty obligations with Belarus,\u201d the ISW said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler also publicly requested the deployment of Russian Oreshnik ballistic missiles in Belarus and permission to determine their targets in case of potential use. Putin said the missiles could be deployed in Belarus in the second half of 2025 \u201cas their production increases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe deployment of Oreshnik ballistic missiles to Belarus would further increase Russia\u2019s military footprint in Belarus and advance the Kremlin\u2019s longstanding strategic effort to erode Belarusian sovereignty,\u201d the analysts noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They linked \u0141uka\u0161enka’s intentions to secure control over the use of missiles to his attempts “to preserve Belarus’ sovereignty within the Union State and buttress his negotiating position against further Union State integration.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Moscow is likely to retain control over any of its ballistic missiles deployed in Belarus as they are to be operated by Russian military personnel, the analysts noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deployment of the Oreshnik missiles to Belarus is not likely to increase risks of missile strikes against Ukraine or NATO states, as the Kremlin “has long had nuclear weapons in mainland Russia and the enclave of Kaliningrad capable of striking targets in Ukraine and NATO,” the analysts said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia used Oreshnik to attack the Ukrainian city of Dnipro on November 21, claiming that there was no way to intercept this type of missile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, Russia started a full-scale war against Ukraine in which the Belarusian authorities support the Kremlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Putin, \u0141uka\u0161enka sign agreement on security guarantees<\/h3>\n
The live coverage has ended. December 6 (21:53), Pozirk. Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka and Russian President Vladimir Putin have signed an interstate treaty on security guarantees, a Union State security concept, a document on the abolition of roaming from March 1 and …<\/div>\n \n