Belarus Says Will Host Russian Nuclear Arms Due to Western ‘Pressure'

Belarusian army Su-25 jet fighters fly during a parade marking Independence Day in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, July 3, 2019 - File/AP
Belarusian army Su-25 jet fighters fly during a parade marking Independence Day in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, July 3, 2019 - File/AP
TT
20

Belarus Says Will Host Russian Nuclear Arms Due to Western ‘Pressure'

Belarusian army Su-25 jet fighters fly during a parade marking Independence Day in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, July 3, 2019 - File/AP
Belarusian army Su-25 jet fighters fly during a parade marking Independence Day in Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, July 3, 2019 - File/AP

Belarus said on Tuesday it had decided to host Russian tactical nuclear weapons after years of pressure from the United States and its allies aimed at changing its political and geopolitical direction.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Moscow would in future look to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus, a staunch ally, escalating a standoff with the West.

The Belarusian foreign ministry justified its decision to cooperate with Russia in a statement on Tuesday, saying Minsk was acting to protect itself from the West, Reuters reported.

"Over the last two and a half years, the Republic of Belarus has been subjected to unprecedented political, economic and information pressure from the United States, the United Kingdom and its NATO allies, as well as the member states of the European Union," the statement said.

"In view of these circumstances, and the legitimate concerns and risks in the sphere of national security arising from them, Belarus is forced to respond by strengthening its own security and defence capabilities."

Minsk said the Russian nuclear plans would not contravene international non-proliferation agreements as Belarus itself would not have control over the weapons.



Japan, Canada Agree to Cooperate on Market Stability

Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne attends the new cabinet's swearing-in at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo
Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne attends the new cabinet's swearing-in at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo
TT
20

Japan, Canada Agree to Cooperate on Market Stability

Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne attends the new cabinet's swearing-in at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo
Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne attends the new cabinet's swearing-in at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo

Japan and Canada, who is this year's chair of the G7 developed economies, have agreed to cooperate to maintain stability in financial markets and the global financial system, Japan's Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday.

In a phone conference on Wednesday, Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato and his Canadian counterpart, Francois-Philippe Champagne, shared concerns over the series of tariffs implemented by the US government, the ministry said in a statement.

As US President Donald Trump's sweeping reciprocal tariffs took effect from midnight with a 104% levy on Chinese imports, China retaliated by vowing to raise tariffs on the US to 84% from Thursday, Reuters reported.

This led to a market rout with bond prices tumbling and global stocks falling further. US Treasuries, the safest haven for the global financial system, were hit by fresh selling pressure on Wednesday in a sign that investors were dumping their safest assets.

The US dollar also weakened against other major currencies.

Japan will cooperate with the Group of Seven advanced economies and the International Monetary Fund to help stabilize a market rout unleashed by US tariffs, the country's top currency diplomat said on Wednesday.