Putin Plans Hypersonic Missile Deployment in Belarus

President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia plans to deploy its new Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missile in Belarus by the second half of next year, following a request from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a summit in Minsk. The deployment aligns with increased production of the missile, which is touted to have capabilities that make it difficult to intercept and potentially comparable in destructive power to nuclear weapons. Putin emphasized that Belarus would determine the targets for the missiles, which could pose a direct threat to NATO members nearby. He framed the move within the context of a mutual defense pact signed with Belarus, enhancing military cooperation between the two nations since the onset of the Ukraine conflict. Some Western experts remain skeptical of Russia's claims regarding the missile's capabilities and effectiveness. The announcement signifies a deepening military alliance between Russia and Belarus amidst ongoing tensions with the West.