The United States (US) has made no adjustments to its nuclear posture following Russia’s deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus and denounced comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow could “theoretically” use nuclear weapons if there was a threat to its territorial integrity or existence, reports Al Jazeera.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that Washington had not changed its nuclear stance as Putin confirmed for the first time that Russia had placed nuclear arms in Belarus.
Blinken said, “We have no reason to adjust our own nuclear posture. We don’t see any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon.”
It was “ironic” that Putin had placed Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus when the Russian leader had justified his invasion of Ukraine on the basis that he wanted to prevent Kyiv from obtaining such weapons, he added.
Speaking at Russia’s annual economic forum in Saint Petersburg on Friday, Putin said Russian tactical nuclear warheads had already been delivered to close ally Belarus.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
