The Council of the Federation of the Russian Federation approved the law on ratification of an agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus on mutual security guarantees within the Union State. This was reported by the press service of the upper house of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
The document was signed by the Presidents of the Russian Federation and Belarus Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko on December 6, 2024 in Minsk at a meeting of the Higher State Council.
The contract obliges the parties to provide mutual support by all means agreed and relevant to international law, in the event of threats to the sovereignty, constitutional system, territorial integrity or external borders of the Union State from third countries, their unions, international organizations, as well as terrorist or extremist groups.
In particular, to counteract external challenges, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus undertake to take joint steps in the political, military and other areas.
“The contract is defensive in nature and is not directed against any countries and associations. Its ratification strengthens the strategic partnership of Russia and Belarus in the framework of the Union State,” said Mamsurov, a member of the defense and security committee.
It is worth noting that Article 6 of the document provides that “the parties consider the nuclear weapons of the Russian Federation as an important factor in preventing the occurrence of nuclear military conflicts and military conflicts using conventional means of defeat, as well as a restraint, the use of which is an extreme and forced measure.”
According to this article, “the decision on the use of the Nuclear Weapons of the Russian Federation placed on its territory is taken in the manner established by the parties”.
Another article of the contract indicates that “the parties consider the armed attack on the state member of the Union State as an act of aggression against the union state as a whole and will take appropriate response measures using all forces at their disposal in accordance with Article 51 The Charter of the United Nations and the legislation of the parties “.
The contract is concluded for 10 years with an automatic extension of its action for subsequent terms.