The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, considered, on Sunday, that the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in… Belarus threatens European security.
Borrell said on his Twitter account, “Belarus’s hosting of Russian nuclear weapons means an irresponsible escalation and a threat to European security,” stressing that Minsk can still stop that step.
#Belarus Hosting Russian nuclear weapons would mean an irresponsible escalation & threat to European security. Belarus can still stop it, it is their choice.
The EU stands ready to respond with further sanctions.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) March 26, 2023
He also confirmed the European Union’s readiness to respond by imposing more sanctions.
Under construction
Recall that the Russian president Vladimir Putin It was announced, on Saturday, that Moscow had agreed with Minsk to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory, explaining that the warehouses needed for these weapons are under construction, and will be ready as of next July.
He also stressed that the reason for this step is due to Britain’s announcement of its intention to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium ammunition, pointing out that Belarus has long requested the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on its territory.
“The response will be terrible.”
It is noteworthy that the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Putin, had confirmed in previous statements that “if London supplies Kiev with uranium, it will give it real uranium,” as he put it.
He also considered, in statements a few days ago, that as soon as the British ammunition exploded in the positions of the Russian forces, “the response will be terrible, and a lesson for the entire planet.”
The “uranium” debate
Lukashenko’s statements came after the “uranium” debate flared up last week when the British Secretary of State for Defense, Annabel Goldie, stated that her country was seeking to transfer uranium ammunition to Kiev, as part of its efforts to provide “Challenger 2” combat tanks and “armor-piercing missiles.”
Depleted uranium is usually used in ammunition designed to penetrate armor, because it becomes sharper upon impact with the target, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. It is also “less radioactive than natural uranium”.
