An article published by the National Interest magazine says that Vladimir Putin’s statement about the transfer of Iskander-M missile systems to Belarus sends a signal to NATO that Russia is ready to shield its allies with its nuclear forces.
“Russia’s desire to transfer missile systems capable of carrying nuclear weapons to Belarus is a signal that Moscow, like NATO, can cover its allies with its nuclear umbrella,” Dipalina Goshal, an expert on nuclear and missile issues, wrote in the magazine.
In his article, an expert in the field of nuclear missiles believes that the transfer of Iskander-M missile systems is beneficial to both Russia and Belarus.
In this context, the article states: “Long-range modes will give Belarus the opportunity to better deter NATO countries. This is actually a win-win situation for Moscow and Minsk.”
Earlier, at a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would transfer Iskander-M missile systems to Minsk in the coming months.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that the Russian president was not talking about the transfer of missiles with nuclear weapons, but about complexes technically capable of carrying various types of weapons.
It is noteworthy that Iskander-M missiles are designed to hit targets of small size and area at a distance of up to 500 km, such as missile systems, multiple launch rocket artillery systems, long-range artillery, command posts, communications centers, as well as aircraft and helicopters at floor of their bases.
Source: RIA Novosti