MINSK. April 14 (Interfax) - Tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus are an element of strategic deterrence, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said.
"They are a factor in strategic deterrence. The tactical nuclear weapons will act as medicine for those who are sick in the head, who believe it's possible to talk to us from a position of strength," Khrenin told reporters at a training ground in the Brest region, the state agency BelTA said.
"They [Western politicians] are afraid that their hypocrisy [and] lies will become evident, and that people will see that they're being deceived. They will see that Western policies are based on lies, and that the threat from the East is imaginary. We are not threatening anyone, we want to live peacefully, raise [our] children, and make independent decisions. They are afraid of that. Their society will soon start seeing things clearly, and start asking questions about why tens of billions need to be spent on unneeded and useless weapons. And our tactical nuclear weapons should not be feared," Khrenin said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 25 that an agreement had been reached with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on placing Russian tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. Putin clarified that the weapons would not be transferred to Belarus.