Belarus weapon memo ‘won’t raise or lower threshold’: Expert

Belarus’ president offered nukes to those joining Russia and Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko: “There will be nuclear weapons for everyone”
Expert: It’s brazen, but won’t “raise or lower” nuclear weapon threshold

Updated: May 30, 2023 / 12:06 PM CDT

(NewsNation) — Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said he’ll give nuclear weapons to states willing to join with Russia and Belarus, according to reports.

“It’s very simple. You have to join the union between Belarus and Russia, and that’s it: There will be nuclear weapons for everyone,” Lukashenko said on Russian state TV, as reported by NBC News.

“I think it’s possible,” Lukashenko said, per NBC, noting that he was expressing his personal view. “We need to strategically understand that we have a unique chance to unite.”

Retired Lt. Gen. Richard Newton told NewsNation that he thinks Lukashenko and Putin are trying to “do some saber rattling.”

“Rather brazen, but nonetheless, I don’t think it’s going to necessarily raise or lower a threshold in terms of using nuclear weapons,” he said.

The comments come after the Belarusian leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin last week went ahead with a deal to deploy Moscow’s tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine.

The move of the weapons, which Putin announced earlier this year, has been interpreted by some as a warning to NATO. The Russian president has repeatedly threatened nuclear weapon use amid its ongoing war.

Belarus and Russia formed their “Union State” partnership in 1999.

The Hill contributed to this report.