Clashes in UN over Russia's deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus

United Nations: Russia is preparing to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus, which borders Ukraine. This has evoked a strong reaction in the United Nations. Ukraine and the United States expressed serious concerns over this. The United States has accused Russia of attempting to prevent its defeat in Ukraine by resorting to the threat of nuclear annihilation. Although China has refrained from directly criticizing Russia in this regard, it has expressed its displeasure by saying that all countries should follow the rules of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

The Belarusian ambassador to the United Nations claimed that deploying Russian nuclear weapons was vital to its national security. Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, questioned the deployment of nuclear weapons by the US in NATO member states and accused the US of violating the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
On March 25th, it was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russian nuclear weapons would be deployed in Belarus. This caused a stir in European countries. Ukraine, in particular, strongly criticized this. Ukraine’s ambassador to the UN accused Russian President Putin of breaking his word to Chinese President Jinping. During President Jinping’s visit to Russia, President Putin had issued a joint statement calling on nuclear-armed countries not to deploy nuclear weapons in other countries. However, Ukraine’s ambassador pointed out that within just four days of that statement, Putin announced the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus. The Ukrainian ambassador also pointed out that China has expressed its displeasure over Russia’s decision while expressing satisfaction over it.

However, the Permanent Representative of Belarus to the United Nations, Valentin Rybakov, supported the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus, stating that they were necessary for their security. Rybakov said that this situation arose only because of the increased military activities by NATO member countries. Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya explained that Russia is not deploying nuclear weapons but tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. The Russian ambassador also claimed this did not violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Meanwhile, Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya accused the United States of violating the non-proliferation ban by deploying nuclear weapons in NATO member states.

US Ambassador Robert Wood strongly criticized this. While the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty was being debated, the United States had raised the issue of deployment of its nuclear weapons in NATO member states. Russia had been silent on it for decades. However, the US ambassador blamed Russia for raising the issue of the deployment of nuclear weapons in other countries only after Russia attacked Ukraine in 2014. Russia is signalling nuclear destruction by deploying its nuclear weapons in Belarus. US Ambassador Robert Wood has said that through this, Russia is attempting to convert its defeat in the conflict in Ukraine into victory.

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