The Federation Council, Russia’s upper parliamentary house, has approved the ratification of the Russia-Belarus Union State Treaty on Security Guarantees, which was signed in Minsk on December 6, 2024. The treaty, submitted for ratification by Russian President Vladimir Putin, strengthens mutual security commitments between the two nations.
Under the agreement, both countries pledge to support each other by all legal and agreed-upon means in response to security threats, encompassing political, military, and other spheres. Any armed attack on one member will be treated as an act of aggression against the entire Union State, prompting joint retaliatory measures utilizing all available forces and capabilities.
The treaty also emphasizes the role of Russian nuclear weapons as a deterrent against both nuclear and conventional military conflicts. It permits their use in extreme cases, such as in response to weapons of mass destruction or conventional attacks that critically threaten sovereignty or territorial integrity. The deployment and use of Russian nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory will be decided through a joint procedure established by both parties.
