Implications of Putin’s threat to use nukes

Mahmud al-Batakoshi

The decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to deploy tactical nuclear weapons accompanied by launch pads in Belarus has raised concern among many countries, especially the US and European states.

On March 25, Putin said his country would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus.

He added that Russia has already sent ten fighter jets to Belarus that can carry tactical nuclear weapons.

He stressed that this step does not constitute any violation of international treaties.

Putin noted that the US has been doing this for decades.

“It has long been deploying its tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of its allies,” the Russian president said.

He added that the president of Belarus has long been asking for the deployment of these weapons.

Hopelessness

Observers considered Russia’s flaunting of nuclear weapons as indicative of despair, almost a year into the Russian war in Ukraine.

The same observers referred to Russia’s failure to capture Kiev or force the Ukrainian government to surrender.

Russia also suffered heavy losses in the war, the observers said.

International affairs expert, Ahmed al-Anani, said President Putin would not allow his army to be defeated.

“He will work with a long-term policy of self-exhaustion to exhaust Ukraine’s forces, taking advantage of the difference in capabilities,” he told The Reference.

Al-Anani added that Putin may resort to the use of nuclear weapons, if his army fails in achieving its goals in Ukraine.

“Such a decision will reflect Putin’s fear of losing the war,” al-Anani said.

Tension

Al-Anani explained that the potential use of nuclear weapons portends tensions in the international arena and the risk of a full-scale nuclear war.

“It will be the first time an atomic weapon will be used since the Hiroshima-Nagasaki incidents,” al-Anani said. “Moscow’s message from that strike will be: watch out, stop, and retreat,” he added.

He noted that the president of Belarus has warned in a speech that nuclear weapons are lurking on the horizon, so the Russian tactical nuclear weapons that will be deployed in his country provide protection from Western threats.

He added that Russia’s decision to deploy some of its nuclear weapons in Belarus may be in response to the British escalation by announcing London’s intention to send depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine.