Thread by @TheStudyofWar

#Russia and #Belarus signed agreements formally advancing preparations to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus as part of a longstanding effort to cement #Moscow’s de facto military control over #Minsk. isw.pub/UkrWar052523

https://twitter.com/thestudyofwar/status/1661887437818286081

2/ #Russia has not yet deployed nuclear weapons to #Belarus and their possible deployment is highly unlikely to presage any Russian escalation. isw.pub/UkrWar052523

3/ The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to #Belarus requires both significant military infrastructure and Russian command and control over elements of the Belarusian Armed Forces.

4/ The #Kremlin likely intends to use these requirements to further subordinate the Belarusian security sphere under #Russia. isw.pub/UkrWar052523