B elarus, an erstwhile Soviet republic, has initiated an unexpected nuclear readiness inspection, displaying the country’s preparedness to deploy tactical nuclear weapons. This action closely aligns with Russia’s maneuvers and appears to be a strategic gesture to reinforce Moscow’s position amid its conflict with Ukraine.

The Belarusian maneuvers began a day after Russia announced plans to hold similar drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons in what it cast as a response to statements by Western officials signaling possibly deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine. It was the first time such an exercise had been publicly announced by Moscow.

Commenting on the ongoing exercise designed to practice the employment of non-strategic nuclear weapons, the head of state came up with a simple analogy: you have to keep an assault rifle in good order if you want it to fire.

Russia is warning its Western adversaries that it feels obliged to boost its nuclear deterrent due to what it sees as their "escalatory" course, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying on Thursday.

Since invading Ukraine in 2022, Putin has repeatedly made veiled threats to use tactical nuclear weapons against the West.

According to The New York Times, these military practices would take place near the border with Ukraine in what has been regarded a provocative message against the West’s involv