MOSCOW. Feb 18 (Interfax) - The Security Guarantees Treaty of the Russia-Belarus Union State was ratified at a plenary meeting of the State Duma on Tuesday.
The treaty was signed in Minsk on December 6, 2024.
Article 6 of the treaty says, "The sides view nuclear weapons of the Russian Federation as an important factor of the prevention of nuclear and conventional military conflicts and as a deterrent used as an unavoidable measure of last resort."
It also says, "Nuclear weapons of the Russian Federation could be used to retaliate against the use of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction against either side, or in case of a conventional aggression against any side creating a critical threat to its sovereignty or territorial integrity."
"A decision to use nuclear weapons of the Russian Federation hosted by the Republic of Belarus for its protection is made in the procedure approved by the sides," the article says.
Article 4 of the treaty says, "The sides view an armed attack on a member of the Union State as an act of aggression against the Union State as a whole and will take respective countermeasures, using all forces and hardware in their disposal, consistent with Article 51 of the UN Charter, and national laws."
Consistent with bilateral agreements, Russian military and other facilities may open and Russian military units may be deployed on the territory of Belarus in order to prevent and repel an aggression against Belarus, the treaty says.
According to the treaty, the sides will appoint special representatives to meet at least twice a year to review the treaty implementation and, if necessary, to draft proposals on raising its efficiency for consideration by the heads of state.
The treaty is concluded for ten years with an automatic extension for ten-year periods.
Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted the bill for the State Duma's consideration.
"It's a task of parliament members to implement the decisions made at the level of the Union State heads. The provision of security within the common defense area becomes crucial amid current challenges. Our goal is to protect citizens of Russia and Belarus and our territories from threats and provocations, above all those coming from neighboring EU member states," the State Duma website quoted State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin as saying.