Belarus Flag for Belarus

Country Spotlight

Belarus gained independence following the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union and inherited a nuclear weapons infrastructure. It transferred all remaining nuclear weapons to Russia by 1996. In February 2022, Belarus amended its constitution to allow Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on Belarussian territory. Russia deployed a shipment of nuclear weapons to Belarus at the end of 2023.

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Region   Former Soviet Union

Article 18 Until 2022, enshrined Belarus's non-nuclear weapon status

1992 Transferred all Soviet chemical weapons back to Russia

2 Nuclear power reactors in operation

Nuclear

  • 2024 military doctrine reportedly emphasizes tactical nuclear weapons as a strategy for deterring attacks from other countries
  • In August 2022, announced upgrades to its Su-25 fighter aircraft to carry nuclear weapons
  • Possesses 230 kg of highly-enriched uranium (HEU); talks to repatriate HEU to Russia collapsed in 2011

Biological

  • Has never possessed an offensive biological weapons program
  • Ratified the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in 1975

Missile

  • In 2024, launched joint drills with Russia involving missiles and warplanes capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons
  • Did not inherit any major missile production or design facilities from the Soviet Union
  • In 2023, prepared for shipments of Iskander nuclear-capable missile systems from Russia

Chemical

  • Has not attempted to restart a chemical weapons program since the removal of Soviet chemical weapons in the 1990s
  • Ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 1996

Treaties and Regimes Memberships

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NPT

The NPT is a treaty aimed at limiting the spread of nuclear weapons through the three pillars of non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

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Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM)

The Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) focuses on the physical protection of peaceful use of nuclear materials.

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Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty bans all nuclear explosion tests on Earth. It needs eight key countries to ratify before entry into force.

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Education Center

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