Former White House Advisor Bolton: "Putin's Belarus 'Tactical Nuclear Deployment' Likely Not a Bluff"

"Existence of Nuclear Weapons Already in Kaliningrad"
"US Must Pay Sufficient Attention to Belarus"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Former White House National Security Advisor John Bolton warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent mention of deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is not just a bluff. He pointed out that the U.S. government needs to pay more attention to the Belarus issue.

On the 27th (local time), Bolton appeared on CNN and said, "I thought Vladimir Putin was bluffing when he made nuclear threats, but when it comes to moving tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, it may not be a bluff." He added, "Belarus and Russia, which were once part of the Soviet Union, have the possibility of merging," and noted, "We are not paying enough attention to this issue."

However, he analyzed that since Russia already has tactical nuclear weapons stationed in its exclave Kaliningrad, the security and military issues in Europe are unlikely to become more serious. He explained, "There are already extensive nuclear weapons, missiles, drones, and warheads in Russia's exclave Kaliningrad," adding, "That place has basically been used as a Russian military facility for many years, and the assets Russia already holds in Kaliningrad could be the most threatening." He continued, "From that perspective, moving some tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus does not seem to change that balance."

Earlier, on the 25th, President Putin stated in an interview with the state-run TV channel Russia 24, "Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has long requested Russia to deploy tactical nuclear weapons," and "We agreed with Belarus to do the same as the U.S. without violating nuclear non-proliferation agreements." He emphasized, "We are not transferring nuclear weapons to Belarus but deploying them there like the U.S.," and "We are not handing over control of the nuclear weapons to Belarus."

Western countries, including the U.S., have strongly opposed this. John Kirby, National Security Council (NSC) Strategic Communications Coordinator, said in a CBS interview the previous day, "We have seen no evidence that President Putin has implemented the declaration to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus or moved any nuclear weapons." Kirby also repeatedly warned, "Using nuclear weapons would clearly cross a significant line."

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