Moscow, March 1, 2025 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin has ratified a security treaty with Belarus, reinforcing military cooperation within the Union State and integrating Minsk into Moscow’s nuclear deterrence strategy.
The treaty, signed into law on Friday, was originally agreed upon during the Supreme State Council of the Union State meeting in December in Minsk. It commits both nations to mutual defense, ensuring the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Notably, it includes provisions for the potential use of Russian nuclear weapons to safeguard Belarus in case of external aggression.
Key provisions of the treaty include:
- Deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, with Minsk having the option to request their use.
- Defense cooperation against unilateral sanctions imposed by external actors.
- Automatic extensions every ten years to maintain long-term security commitments.
Following the treaty’s ratification, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko formally requested the deployment of Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Russian President Putin confirmed the new missile systems, equipped with a hypersonic upper stage, could be stationed in Belarus in late 2025. These systems were previously tested in Ukraine, where they targeted the Yuzhmash military industrial facility in Dnepr in November.
Senior Russian officials, including Valentina Matvienko and Vyacheslav Volodin, have emphasized the treaty’s significance amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in response to perceived provocations from EU nations bordering Belarus.
Additionally, Russia and Belarus announced plans for the Zapad 2025 joint military exercise in September, which will involve over 13,000 troops. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has been invited to observe the drills.
While Ukraine and NATO members have expressed concerns over the growing Russian military presence in Belarus, Moscow has denied any intentions of aggression against NATO territories. However, recent updates to Russia’s nuclear deterrence policy suggest that under certain conditions, proxy wars against Russia could justify nuclear responses.
