Russia and Belarus have signed a long-awaited agreement on the stationing of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus. With the deal, Belarus could easily become an even easier target for Western tactical and strategic nuclear weapons, says Patrick Bolder, a defense specialist affiliated with the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague. “Belarus is thus pulled even further into the Russian sphere of influence.”
Sukhoi 25 aircraft are being upgraded and pilots are being trained to drop free-fall nuclear bombs. Iskander M systems are also equipped with a nuclear warhead. The agreement is not surprising, but the fact that it is now official poses a threat to Europe. Russia and Belarus are obviously already united, but if Lukashenko falls, Putin will be the first to succeed him. Then Belarus will simply be an advanced province of Russia.”
Non-proliferation
Meanwhile, unity between Russia and China looks less solid. The Russo-Belarus deal appears to conflict with a non-proliferation treaty between the great powers, Bolder agrees. In March, Xi visited Putin and, in addition to reaffirming their friendship, they agreed, among other things, that there would be no proliferation of nuclear weapons. Putin will do it with this movement and that means that this ‘boundless friendship’ is not all that hopeful.’
On the other hand, China does not hesitate to strengthen ties with Stans’ countries in view of the new Silk Road, says Bolder. ‘You can see that these countries are being drawn more and more into the Chinese sphere of influence and are moving further and further away from the Russian sphere of influence. The result is further isolation of Russia, and Putin who finds himself increasingly alone. This weakens Russia and above all strengthens China’s power’.
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
