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Home / Multilateral Cooperation / Global issues / Global Security
International and Regional Security, Disarmament and Arms Control
Belarus pursues consistent policy in the sphere of international security, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, disarmament and arms control.
The Republic of Belarus undertook a series of international commitments in disarmament and arms control.
Our country was the first to voluntarily renounce its nuclear weapons remaining after USSR collapse.
Being a non-nuclear state, Belarus joined the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1993. Following its commitments under the Lisbon Protocol and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, Belarus completely withdrew nuclear-missile weapons from its territory.
Having been a Party to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) since 1992, our country destroyed 584 intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles. Belarus is a member of the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.
Belarus joined the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 1995.
Belarus recognizes the role of international export control regimes as tools for preventing the illicit proliferation of nuclear material, equipment and technologies. Belarus has been a member of Nuclear Suppliers Group since 2000. Our country adheres to its guiding principles while deciding on delivering controlled products. Belarus joined another export control regime, i.e. the Zangger Committee, in 2010.
The Republic of Belarus ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) on May 13, 2000 and stands for its immediate implementation.
Belarus believes that the weapons of mass destruction (WMD) should not fall into hands of terrorist organizations. Belarus consistently supports the efforts of the international community to prevent WMD proliferation and its trafficking to terrorists.
Belarus supported the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution No 1540 (2004) on non-proliferation of the WMD and provided the UN Security Council with corresponding national reports on the measures taken at the national level.
Belarus takes an active part in the activities of the Committee of the UN General Assembly related to the issues of international security and disarmament. Not only our country is a UN member state, it is also the author of a number of UN General Assembly resolutions on prohibition of development and manufacture of new types of weapons of mass destruction and new systems of such weapons. Belarus is the co-author of a number of resolutions devoted to the most urgent issues in the sphere of international security including the resolutions initiated by the Non-Aligned Movement.
Specialized forums on disarmament and international security, i.e. the Conference on Disarmament (Geneva) and the UN Disarmament Commission (New York) are organized by the UN. Belarus is an active participant of such forums. Our country chaired the UN Conference on Disarmament in 2010.
The country is a member of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction and the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction. Belarus has adopted national legislation in line with the provisions of the abovementioned conventions. The National Body on the Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has been set up, its functions being assigned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In compliance with its commitments under the international agreements, Belarus destroyed large quantities of arms and military hardware, thus making a significant contribution to strengthening peace and stability in Europe by reducing conventional armaments reserves.
Under the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) 1773 army tanks, 1341 battle armored machines and 130 battle planes were destroyed. They constitute over 10 per cent of the arms and military equipment destroyed by all 30 CFE member states. Belarus takes an active part in the CFE adaptation to new geopolitical landscape, being the first country to ratify the Agreement on Adaptation of the CFE Treaty.
In September 2003 the Republic of Belarus joined the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. Under the Convention, the most important commitment is the elimination of the existing reserves. Possessing the seventh largest arsenal of antipersonnel mines, Belarus undertakes targeted efforts to eliminate them.
An advocate of protecting civil population from the exposure to certain types of conventional armaments and defending combatants from excessive sufferings, Belarus joined the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects and all the Protocols of the Convention.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is an important partner of Belarus in international security. Within the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation (OSCE FSC), Belarus took part in drafting the OSCE Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons (2000) and the OSCE Document on Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition (2003). Belarus chaired OSCE FSC in 2005.
Confidence & Security Measures are essential to conventional arms control both on the regional and sub-regional levels.
Following the strategy of the Head of the State aimed at creating a good neighboring and security zone along the borders of the state, Belarus signed agreements on additional confidence and security measures in political and military field with Ukraine and Lithuania (2001), Latvia and Poland (2004). These measures provide for secure space important to all the neighbors.
Belarus supports further adaptation of the Vienna Document on Strengthening Trust and Security (1999).
Belarus is also party to the Treaty on Open Skies which encourages more transparency and confidence in Europe as a whole. Belarus chaired the Open Skies Consultative Commission – a working body reviewing all issues related to the implementation of the Treaty on Open Skies — in 2008.
Constructive approach of Belarus in promoting international security and arms control, addressing new security challenges and threats against the backdrop of larger complexity of military and political situation in Europe is a tangible contribution to the regional security and a good neighboring zone alongside our borders.
The issues regarding the implementation of international treaties on weapons control are handled by the National Agency for Control and Inspection – a department at the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus — and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
