Russian President Vladimir Putin has ratified a security agreement with Belarus, strengthening military ties between the two neighboring countries within the Union State. Belarus will also be integrated into Russia’s nuclear deterrent strategy.
The agreement, signed on Friday, was approved in December 2024 at a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State in Minsk. It obliges both parties to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the other country. The accord also allows for the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons to protect Belarus from a potential attack.
Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of the Russian Federation Council, described the agreement as crucial in the current geopolitical climate.
The agreement includes provisions against one-sided sanctions and has a ten-year term, with the option to automatically renew if not terminated.
A key provision enables the stationing of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Russia has already deployed ballistic missiles in the country as part of its partnership with the Union State. Under the agreement, Belarus can request the use of these weapons if deemed necessary. Both countries consider Russia’s nuclear arsenal a deterrent against threats, to be used only as a last resort.
Following the signing of the agreement, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko called for the deployment of Russian intermediate-range ballistic missiles, such as the Oreschnik, in the country. The new systems, which feature a hypersonic upper stage, could be deployed in Belarus by the end of this year, according to Putin.
The Oreschnik was introduced last year and tested in Ukraine, where it was used in a November attack on the Yushmasch arms plant in Dnipro.
Duma member Vyacheslav Volodin stated: “The agreement’s provisions will protect sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly in the face of provocations from EU countries bordering Belarus.”
Russia and Belarus have also announced plans to hold the joint military exercise “Zapad 2025” in September, involving more than 13,000 soldiers. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has been invited to observe the exercise.
Lukashenko has allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory for military operations and station tactical nuclear weapons in the country. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky claimed in February that a Russian military buildup in Belarus, bordering NATO member states Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, could be a preparation for an attack. Russia has denied any intention to attack NATO member states.