Belarus caught in the middle of nuclear tensions between Russia and US.

Putin's announcement to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus may not give him any real advantage on the battlefield in Ukraine, but it could expose Russia's weakness and potentially test its growing friendship with China. The move is likely an attempt to use nuclear threats to intimidate Ukraine's allies, and may widen the chasm between Moscow and the West. The West has been critical but measured in its response, while Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has requested the move to "safeguard" his country. The collapse of the last remaining arms control treaty between the US and Russia has also added to broader nuclear tensions.