Belarus Threatens the Use of Tactical Nuclear Weapons if There Is a Threat to the Country's Sovereignty

Pavel Muraveiko, the Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Armed Forces, has declared that Belarus will use tactical nuclear weapons if there is a threat to the country's "sovereignty" and "independence".

Muraveiko made the statement on the ONT television channel on Sunday, according to the Belarusian state news agency Belta.

"One of the latest arguments that act as a deterrent is the return of non-strategic nuclear weapons to the territory of our country," he said.

"We have learned how to handle this weapon. We know how to use it confidently. We are capable of doing this. And you can be sure: we will do it if our country's sovereignty and independence are threatened."

Muraveiko said that in a few days Belarus will become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization [a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance, - Ed.], and Poland allegedly wants to prevent this.

He also accused Poland of allegedly provoking and initiating the crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border, through which illegal migrants are entering Poland from Belarus.

On June 12, Russia and Belarus have started the second phase of tactical nuclear weapons exercises after what Russia said were threats from Western countries. Previously, at the beginning of May, Russia announced military drills involving the simulated use of tactical nuclear weapons.