Belarus has launched a new round of military drills aimed at testing its ability to deploy and use Russian nuclear weapons stationed on its soil a move that underscores the deepening military alignment between Minsk and Moscow. The country’s defence ministry announced on Monday that the exercises, conducted with Russian support, will rehearse the delivery, preparation and battlefield readiness of tactical nuclear munitions.
According to officials, the core objective is to assess how quickly Belarusian forces can mobilise nuclear‑capable units across different parts of the country. The drills will also emphasise concealment, long‑distance manoeuvring and precise coordination of military equipment a significant consideration given Belarus’s borders with Russia, Ukraine and three NATO member states.
Belarus agreed in 2023 to host Russian tactical nuclear missiles, a year after Moscow launched its full‑scale invasion of Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed that Moscow retains full control over the weapons, a stance Western governments view as part of Russia’s ongoing nuclear signalling aimed at deterring further support for Kyiv.
Just last week, Putin announced that Russia would deploy its new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile by the end of the year and continue modernising its nuclear forces. Belarus, meanwhile, insists the current drills are not directed at any specific country and pose no threat to regional security.
The exercises come at a moment of heightened geopolitical strain, with Western analysts warning that the presence of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus marks a significant shift in Europe’s security landscape.
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