peribiden WASHINGTON: The United States is worried that the arrival of Russian troops in Belarus for training can cause a permanent presence that might introduce nuclear weapons to the country, a senior work department official to reporters on Tuesday.
Russian military forces moved to Belarus after strong Allies Moscow Alexarander Lukashenko announced Monday that the two countries would do military exercises next month.
That step, which comes without advanced notice which is usually given to countries in the region, adds to the increasing tension with the west of the possibility of Russian invasion to Ukraine, which borders Belarus.
US officials, talking to the reason anonymity, said the size of the Russian strength that arrived in Belarus was “beyond what we expected from normal practice.”
“The time is important and, of course, raises fears that Russia can intend to place troops in Belarus with the guise of military training together with potentially attacking Ukraine,” officials said.
The official said that changes in the Belarus constitution in the referendum next month could allow the presence of the Russian military to be permanent.
“This draft of this constitutional change can indicate a Belarus plan to allow Russian conventional and nuclear forces to be placed in his area,” the official said.
It will represent “challenges for European security that may require a response,” the official said.
Belarus also borders Poland, NATO members.
The official said the number of mobilized troops was “outside of course what we expected with respect to normal practice.”
Normal exercise, which involves for example 9,000 troops, requires notice in advance 42 days. If more than 13,000, he needed an international observer, the official said.
“That’s what it looks normal. This is something completely different.”
“Over time, Lukashenko is getting better in Russia for all kinds of support. And we know that he doesn’t get that support for free,” US official said.
“Clearly Russia prey on Lukashenko vulnerability and call a little IOUS accumulation,” the official said.
