No Change to US Nuclear Posture Following Russia’s Pledge to Arm Belarus: State Department

The United States will not adjust its nuclear posture following an announcement by Russia that it will place tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus. Russian President Vladimir Putin said over the weekend that Belarus could house Russian tactical nuclear weapons by the beginning of summer. The Biden administration says that Russia is not seriously considering the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, however, and will not adjust its own nuclear posture as such. “We have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture nor any indications Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon,” said State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel during a March 27 press briefing....