Expert: Russia, Belarus will use all available weapons if military forces act against Union State

Russia is shaping a new security agenda against the background of its new weapons: Burevestnik and Poseidon. In his talk with SB TV, Reserve Major General Ruslan Kosygin, the Deputy Chairman of the Standing Commission on National Security of the House of Representatives at Belarus’ National Assembly, explained what is changing, and how relevant it is against the background of statements by US President Donald Trump about unilateral nuclear weapons testing.

“The threshold for the use of nuclear weapons is very low today, and we are still moving up the escalation ladder. The Doomsday Clock is moving faster, and the mechanisms that used to be a deterrent are no longer working. The United States are making the decisions that push us to contemplate. Assessing the state of affairs in this direction, Russia had to make a number of fundamental decisions to ensure strategic security," the expert stressed. “Among them, for example, are the changes in the nuclear doctrine, which state that an attack on Russia by a non-nuclear country supported by a nuclear power will be the basis for a pre-emptive strike using nuclear weapons. This also applies to ensuring the security of Belarus as a strategic ally. We are also talking about this, because we have tactical nuclear weapons as well. All this is the result of the nuclear policy pursued primarily by the United States. It indicates that the United States is considering the possibility of using not only tactical nuclear weapons located in Europe, but also its strategic offensive weapons.”

Mr. Kosygin noted, “The United States has its Project 2025, which is actually a roadmap for the re-equipment of strategic offensive forces, taking into account the resumption of nuclear weapons testing at the Nevada ground. These are the things that are connected with Europe and the states that have nuclear weapons: the United Kingdom and France. They are actively working to replace obsolete types of nuclear weapons and create their own nuclear umbrella, bypassing the common US one. This also applies to the modernisation of American tactical nuclear weapons, which are located on the territory of European states. At present, we hear the information about the preparation of storage facilities for the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Poland. Could Russia have ignored these factors? Of course, not. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently noted that the current actions of the United States indicate a global increase in the capabilities of strategic offensive weapons with the possibility of their further use (and this is also indicated by the Americans’ previous steps). The US also carries out practical actions that clearly mean preparations for the use of these weapons. They include, for example, the rearmament or deconservation of 56 launchers on 14 Ohio-class submarines and their equipment with Trident missiles, the testing of cruise missiles that can be equipped with nuclear munitions, the development of modern hypersonic weapons (an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of almost 13,500km), and the commissioning of the Dark Eagle medium-range and shorter-range missile systems on the territory of European states by the end of 2025. If the latter are deployed in Germany, the flight time to the central part of Russia will make just 6-7 minutes. As for the Golden Dome system, it has not only a defensive component, but also an offensive one. In addition, US President Donald Trump is making statements about the possibility of resuming nuclear weapons testing.”

“The Russian Federation assessed that and had to react, defiantly presenting its latest weapons, including the nuclear-powered carriers – such as Burevestnik (a missile with unlimited range, capable of overcoming all existing air defence systems) and Poseidon (a combat underwater vehicle, which – as even western analysts admitted – changes the rules of the game). This is part of the deterrence potential against the United States. Russia is definitely ahead of the United States in weapons, and there is no defence against its power. This is another signal to the West, which thinks that it is possible to defeat the nuclear powers of Russia and Belarus. We will use everything we have if military forces, including nuclear weapons, are used against our states,” the military expert emphasised.

Mr. Kosygin added, “Belarus has everything it needs to protect itself. If you think that we do not have this, then it is just your opinion. The tasks have been set in this regard. Moreover, the Oreshnik complex will also enter service in December. These are the elements of strategic deterrence and preventing the unleashing of aggression against the Union State. This is a warning that nobody should talk to us from a position of strength and threaten us with nuclear weapons. At the same time, we emphasise that we do not consider any state as a target for attack and are not going to be the first to use the latest types of weapons against anyone. All this is a tool for preventing war and strategic deterrence.”