The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs pressed for an end to politicizing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) issue and affirmed that Russia and Belarus fully comply with the treaty’s provisions. The ministry reaffirmed a steady commitment to the NPT, contributing to its strengthening and resisting attempts to politicize it, a stance described as essential in international dialogue on nonproliferation.
On March 25, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. He argued that this move would not breach nonproliferation commitments because Moscow would retain sole control of its weapons, and it would simply provide a storage facility in Belarus. Putin added that the storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons is expected to be completed by July 1, 2023, framing the decision as a defensive and strategic measure rather than an expansion of arms beyond Russia’s sovereign arsenal. The plan has been presented as a way to strengthen regional security dynamics while maintaining compliance with existing nonproliferation norms, according to official statements from the Kremlin reported by state media channels.
Meanwhile, former United States National Security Advisor John Bolton asserted that the United States would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea. Bolton argued that redeploying these weapons would help reassure the South Korean public about defense assurances in the region, a perspective he shared in public remarks and discussions on U.S. security posture in Northeast Asia. The rhetoric surrounding these discussions emphasizes deterrence, alliance commitments, and the complexities of maintaining security guarantees in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment, as described in briefings and interviews cited by multiple policy circles and media outlets.