Lukashenko's nuclear button: Belarus's strategic stake
Alexander Lukashenko, much like Vladimir Putin, has his own "red button" for nuclear weapons, according to Alexander Volfovich, the Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus. Russian warheads have been stationed in the country for six months.
"Every president (of Belarus and Russia) has their own 'red button,' their own briefcase, their own nuclear suitcase," Volfovich stated, as quoted by the BelTA agency.
He emphasized that only the president of Belarus has the authority to use weapons located on Belarusian territory, just as only the president of Russia has the right to use and issue commands regarding weapons within Russian borders.
He reiterated that Russia and Belarus are like "brothers." "We share common national interests within the Union State, and common goals," he added.
Nuclear weapons in Belarus
Since June, several Russian nuclear warheads have been stationed in Belarus. In August, Alexander Lukashenko assured that the country would not deploy nuclear weapons unless there was a breach of the Union State's borders.
On December 5, Vladimir Putin approved a proposal by the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding an agreement with Belarus on security guarantees within the Union State. The document includes provisions from the updated nuclear doctrine adopted on November 19. It states that Russia may use nuclear weapons in the event of an attack on Belarus.
The Union State of Russia and Belarus was founded in 1998. Officially, it aims to promote deeper integration, including monetary union, although there are discussions about merging the two states. Over time, Minsk has opposed some aspects of this integration.
