(CNN) Vladimir Putin says he plans to use tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, the neighboring ally from which he staged part of his February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. When the Russian President uses the word “nuclear,” the world pays attention, and that seems to be one of the main reasons he said it.
As is usual with Putin, the world should read the fine print and put it into context. The weapons that Putin wants to bring to Belarus are not strategic nuclear weapons, those giant ICBMs that, if launched, could end life on Earth.
Tactical nuclear weapons are smaller but powerful and can be used on the battlefield. Putin has threatened the possibility of nuclear war for the past year, particularly if his military operation in Ukraine falters.
That might help explain the context of Putin’s announcement. He’s a man with a lot of problems right now. Russian forces are bombing Ukrainian cities from the air, but their ground war is not making much headway.
Aside from several new trade deals with China, Putin didn’t take much away from his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Russia now seems more like China’s junior partner.
Then there is the International Criminal Court and the arrest warrant it issued for Putin.
Now for the fine print.
Putin blames the other side for his decision, saying he made it in response to the UK supplying Ukraine with depleted uranium anti-tank ammunition.
Putin accuses this of being a dangerous escalation. The UK disputes this, stating that the ammunition is only used for conventional purposes.
Putin says Russia is already building a tactical nuclear weapons storage facility that will be ready by July. He did not give an exact date when the tactical weapons would arrive.
In addition, he notes, Russia already has 10 aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons, as well as several short-range Iskander missile systems that could carry nuclear weapons.
Significantly, the Russian leader said he would not hand over control of the tactical nuclear weapons to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has long requested the weapons.
This strikes two former US diplomats I spoke to as odd.
Lukashenko signed an agreement in 1994 to give up the strategic nuclear weapons that Belarus still had at the end of the Cold War.
Why should he choose to do that? A diplomat points out that the weapons would have to be serviced by Russian forces stationed permanently on Belarusian soil, a sign that Lukashenko is even more under Putin’s control.
The Biden administration is unimpressed by Putin’s announcement. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said the US is monitoring the impact of Putin’s statement, but added: “We have seen no reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear stance, nor any indication that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon.” . We remain committed to the collective defense of the NATO alliance.”
And yet the transfer of Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus not only brings them closer to Ukraine, but also to Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, all NATO allies.
This increases the threat level in Europe, which is what Putin intended.