Александр Лукашенко. Фото: president.gov.by
Aliaksandr Lukashenka commented on the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the country and said that losing Belarus today would be unacceptable for Russia. He made the remarks in an interview with RT host Rick Sanchez, conducted on April 17 in Minsk.
According to Lukashenka, tactical nuclear weapons are a factor of protection and security for the country, not an instrument of intimidation. He also said he does not consider the United States a threat to Belarus, citing his contacts with people close to Donald Trump.
“I do not think that the Americans aim to wage war against Belarus. On the contrary, based on the contacts I have with people close to Trump. Not only politicians, but people close to Trump. And I understand that even if the Americans wanted to fight us, God forbid, they would fight from the territories of the Baltic states, Poland and so on,” he said.
According to him, a confrontation with Belarus would also mean a confrontation with Russia.
“Well, what do you think — why would I bring these tactical nuclear weapons here, stir up the whole world and scare someone? No — this is a factor of our protection, our security. It is a factor. And add to that everything that the Russian Federation has — we are their closest allies. Losing Belarus today is unacceptable for Russia. As we used to say: it means the enemy would stand in Smolensk, near Moscow. This is unacceptable for Russia. And then — we are allies, we are legally bound to each other. And Russia has directly stated that it will use its entire arsenal of weapons to defend Belarus. The whole world knows this. America knows it and Europe knows it. Therefore, a clash with Belarus is a clash with Belarus and Russia. And an appropriate grouping has been created in the west of Russia that will support the Belarusian army instantly. And you know what kind of weapons they have. Therefore, we do not want war,” Lukashenka added.