Foreign relations of Belarus
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates
Template:Politics of Belarus The Byelorussian SSR was one of only two Soviet republics to be separate members of the United Nations (the other being the Ukrainian SSR). Both republics and the Soviet Union joined the UN when the organization was founded in 1945.
Prior to 2001
[edit]After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, at which time Belarus gained its independence, Belarus became a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), NATO's Partnership for Peace, the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. The adoption by Supreme Council of the BSSR of the declaration of State Sovereignty of Belarus in 1990 was a turning point on the development of the state. It has also been in a supranational union with Russia since 2 April 1996, although this has had little practical effect. Belarus-Council of Europe relations are based on cooperation and it is not a member (like Russia).
Belarus–Russia relations
[edit]Template:Further The introduction of free trade between Russia and Belarus in mid-1995 led to a spectacular growth in bilateral trade, which was only temporarily reversed in the wake of the financial crisis of 1998. President Alexander Lukashenko sought to develop a closer relationship with Russia. The framework for the Union of Russia and Belarus was set out in the Treaty on the Formation of a Community of Russia and Belarus (1996), the Treaty on Russia-Belarus Union, the Union Charter (1997), and the Treaty of the Formation of a Union State (1999). The integration treaties contained commitments to monetary union, equal rights, single citizenship, and a common defence and foreign policy.
Belarus–European Union relations
[edit]Template:Main Following the recognition of Belarus as an independent state in December 1991 by the European Community, EC/EU-Belarus relations initially experienced a steady progress. The signature of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) in 1995 signaled a commitment to political, economic and trade cooperation. Some assistance was provided to Belarus within the framework of the TACIS programme and also through various aid programs and loans. However, progress in EU-Belarus relations stalled in 1996 after serious setbacks to the development of democracy, and the Drazdy conflict.
The EU did not recognize the 1996 constitution, which replaced the 1994 constitution. The Council of the European Union decided against Belarus in 1997: The PCA was not concluded, nor was its trade-related part; Belarusian membership in the Council of Europe was not supported; bilateral relations at the ministerial level were suspended and EU technical assistance programs were frozen.
Acknowledging the lack of progress in relation to bilateral relations and the internal situation following the position adopted in 1997, the EU adopted a step-by-step approach in 1999, whereby sanctions would be gradually lifted upon fulfillment of the four benchmarks set by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. In 2000, some moderately positive developments toward the implementation of recommendations made by the OSCE AMG were observed but were not sufficient in the realm of access to fair and free elections.
Belarus–United Kingdom relations
[edit]Template:Main Belarus established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 27 January 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Belarus maintains an embassy in London.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The United Kingdom is accredited to Belarus through its embassy in Minsk.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Both countries share common membership of the OSCE. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Agreement,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and an Investment Agreement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Belarus–United States relations
[edit]The United States has encouraged Belarus to conclude and adhere to agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the program of macroeconomic stabilization and related reform measures, as well as to undertake increased privatization and to create a favorable climate for business and investment. Although there has been some American direct private investment in Belarus, its development has been relatively slow given the uncertain pace of reform. An Overseas Private Investment Corporation agreement was signed in June 1992 but has been suspended since 1995 because Belarus did not fulfill its obligations under the agreement.
Belarus is eligible for Export-Import Bank short-term financing insurance for U.S. investments, but because of the adverse business climate, no projects have been initiated. The IMF granted standby credit in September 1995, but Belarus has fallen off the program and did not receive the second tranche of funding, which had been scheduled for regular intervals throughout 1996.
The United States - along with the European Union - has restricted the travel of President Alexander Lukashenko and members of his inner circle, as well as imposing economic sanctions.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Belarus–Baltic relations
[edit]Template:Further, Template:Further, Template:Further
Present situation (2001 onwards)
[edit]Relations with the European Union
[edit]Template:Main The structure of Belarus trade reflects the low competitiveness and output decline of manufacturing industry in the country over the past decade, leading to the predominance of primary production, work-intensive goods as exports. Belarusian exports to the EU consist mainly of agricultural and textile products, while imports from the EU are primarily machinery.
Belarus is a beneficiary of the EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). The European Commission decided in 2003 to initiate an investigation into violations of freedom of association in Belarus as the first step towards a possible temporary withdrawal of the GSP from Belarus.
In December 2004, the EU adopted a position aimed at imposing travel restrictions on officials from Belarus responsible for the fraudulent parliamentary elections and referendum on 17 October 2004, and for human rights violations during subsequent peaceful political demonstrations in Minsk. The European Parliament released a statement in March 2005 in which it denounced the Belarusian government as a dictatorship. The European parliamentarians were primarily concerned about the suppression of independent media outlets in the country and the fraudulent referendum. A resolution of the European Parliament declared that the personal bank accounts of President Lukashenko and other high-ranking Belarusian officials should be tracked and frozen.
In 2005, Amnesty International reported a pattern of deliberate obstruction, harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders in Belarus. Reporters Without Borders accused the Belarusian authorities of hounding and arresting journalists from the country's Polish minority. Lukashenko has closed the country's main Polish newspaper, printing a bogus paper instead with the same name and size that praises his incumbent government. Several foreign, mainly Polish, journalists have been arrested or expelled from the country. Lukashenko accused Poland of an attempt to overthrow his government by stirring up a peaceful revolution in Belarus comparable to the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004.
Later in 2005 the Belarusian riot police seized the headquarters of the Union of Poles in Belarus, an association representing the 400,000 ethnic minority Polish living in western areas the country that were part of Poland until World War II. The dispute between Poland and Belarus escalated further as Poland responded by recalling its ambassador from Belarus for indefinite consultations, and called on the European Union to impose sanctions on the Belarusian leadership in order to curtail the human rights abuses in Belarus. Belarusian papers described this as a 'dirty political game', and part of a 'cold war' waged on president Lukashenko. Polish Foreign Minister Adam Rotfeld said a clampdown was under way, aimed at destroying "all elements of political pluralism and independence" in Belarus.
In August 2005 the EU's executive commission called for human rights to be respected in Belarus. The commission said it was considering offering support to independent media in the country and had set aside more than eight million euros from its budget to offer support for human rights activities. France expressed her solidarity with Poland on the issue of human rights in Belarus a day after the EU declared it was worried about the situation in that country. Several former Soviet Republics, including neighbouring Ukraine, also expressed their concerns about the development of the situation in Belarus.
In May 2009 Belarus and the EU agree on cooperation in the Eastern Partnership (EaP). However, it is contended by some scholars that the (EaP) is unable to create a workable partnership.<ref name=Korosteleva2008>Elena Korosteleva, "The Limits of the EU Governance: Belarus ' Response to the European Neighbourhood Policy", Contemporary Politics, Vol. 15(2), June 2009, pp. 229–45</ref> This proved to be correct when Belarus withdrew from the Partnership on 30 September 2011.<ref name="Belarus Withdrawal">Belarus quits EU's Eastern Partnership initiative Template:Webarchive</ref>
In August 2012, Belarus expelled all Swedish diplomats, including the Swedish Ambassador to Belarus, Stefan Eriksson, and closed its embassy in Stockholm, after a Swedish public relations firm released teddy bears carrying pro-democracy flyers in parachutes from an airplane over Minsk on 4 July 2012. Lukashenko also fired his air defence chief and the head of the border guards over the incident. Their replacements have been told not to hesitate to use force to stop future intrusions from abroad.<ref name="Belarus Sweden">Belarus-Sweden teddy bear row escalates, BBC News, 2012-08-08</ref>
Relations with Russia
[edit]Template:Main Russia remains the largest and most important partner for Belarus both in the political and economic fields. After protracted disputes and setbacks, the two countries' customs duties were unified in March 2001 but the customs controls were soon restored. In terms of trade, almost half of Belarusian export goes to Russia. Due to the structure of Belarusian industry, Belarus relies heavily on Russia both for export markets and for the supply of raw materials and components.
After initial negotiation with the Russian Central Bank on monetary union, the Russian ruble was set to be introduced in Belarus in 2004, but this was postponed first until 2005, then until 2006, and now seems to have been suspended indefinitely.
Relations with the United States
[edit]Template:Main Belarus has had an ongoing discussion to relaunch IMF-backed reforms, concluding an arrangement for an IMF Staff-monitored program (SMP) in 2001. However, the authorities did not follow through with reforms as hoped, leaving an uncertain future for IMF-backed cooperation. Belarus authorities have said on several occasions that they find IMF intervention and recommendations in Belarus counter-productive to the economic development of those countries. The relationships with the United States have been further strained, after Congress of the United States unanimously passed the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004.
On 7 March 2008 the government of Belarus ejected US Ambassador Karen B. Stewart from the country, following a row over travel restrictions placed on President Lukashenko and sanctions against state-owned chemical company Belneftekhim. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry announced at the same time that it was recalling its own ambassador to the US. This was followed by the expulsion of ten other U.S. embassy staff from Minsk in late April. At the same time the government of Belarus ordered the U.S. Embassy in Minsk to cut its staff by half.<ref name="aljazeera1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="nytimes1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="moscowtimes1">Template:Cite web</ref> A White House spokesman described the expulsion as "deeply disappointing".
Relations with other countries
[edit]Due to strained relations with the United States and the European Union, as well as occasional high-level disputes with Russia over prices on core imported natural resources such as oil and gas, Belarus aims to develop better relations with countries in other regions, like the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America.<ref>Rafal Czachor, Polityka wielowektorowości Republiki Białoruś – geneza, podstawy konceptualne, przykłady realizacji, Wrocławski Przegląd Międzynarodowy, Vol. 1, 2011, pp.54-56, Template:ISSN</ref>
Hong Kong national security law
[edit]Belarus was one of 53 countries that in June 2020 supported the Hong Kong national security law at the United Nations Human Rights Council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Nuclear weapons offer
[edit]In May 2023, the President of Belarus offered nuclear weapons to other countries who join Belarus and Russia. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Diplomatic relations
[edit]List of countries which Belarus maintains diplomatic relations with:
Bilateral relations
[edit]Multilateral
[edit]| Organization | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | See Belarus–European Union relations | |
| Template:Flag | See Belarus–NATO relations |
Africa
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | 1995-04-24 | Bilateral relations were established on 24 April 1995.<ref name=":17">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1994-05 | Diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in May 1994.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1993-11-17 | Bilateral relations were established on 17 November 1993
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| Template:Flag | 1992 | See Belarus–Libya relations.
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| Template:Flag | 2000-02-29 | Bilateral relations were established between Belarus and Mozambique on 29 February 2000.<ref name=":18">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 2000-12-21 | The two countries established bilateral relations on 21 December 2000.<ref name=":19">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | March 1993<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
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| Template:Flag | 1999-07-15 | See Belarus–Sudan relations |
| Template:Flag | 1992-04-16 | Bilateral relations were established on 16 April 1992.<ref name=":20">Template:Cite web</ref>
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Americas
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag |
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| Template:Flag |
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| Template:Flag | 1992-04-15 | Belarus and Canada established diplomatic relations on 15 April 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-04 | Bilateral relations between Cuba and Belarus began in April 1992.<ref name=":22">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 2004 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 9 July 2004.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Template:Flag |
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The governments of Belarus and Ecuador concluded an agreement about mutual visa-free travel. It was signed in Quito on 20 June 2014, ratified by Belarus law on 29 December 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 2000 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 February 2000.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Template:Flag | January 1992 | See Belarus–Mexico relations
Belarus and Mexico established diplomatic relations in January 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1998-10-22 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 October 1998.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1991 | See Belarus–United States relations
Diplomatic relations between the United States and Belarus began in 1991 upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union, of which Belarus had been a part. However, the relations have turned sour due to accusations by the United States that Belarus has been undemocratic. Belarus, in turn, has accused the United States of interfering in its internal affairs.
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| Template:Flag | 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | 1992 |
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Asia
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | 1992 | See Armenia–Belarus relations
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| Template:Flag | 1992 | See Azerbaijan–Belarus relations
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| Template:Flag | 1992-02-21 | Bilateral relations were established on 21 February 1992.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | 1992 | See Belarus–Georgia relations
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| Template:Flag | 1992-04-17 | Template:See also<ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1993-03-18 | See Belarus–Iran relations. Bilateral relations were established on 18 March 1993.<ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992 |
Belarus and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1992. During the 1990s, around 130,000 Belarusian citizens immigrated to Israel, forming one of the largest Belarusian expatriate communities in the world.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In August 2015, an agreement was signed on visa-free entry,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Citation needed span
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| Template:Flag | 1992-01-26 | The two countries established bilateral relations on 26 January 1992.<ref name=":13">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-09-16 | Bilateral relations began on 16 September 1992.<ref name=":14">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1993-07-21 | Belarus and Kyrgyzstan established diplomatic relations on 21 July 1993.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Relations were disrupted between August 2012 and October 2015 after Kyrgyzstan recalled their ambassador.<ref name=":15">Template:Cite news</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1993-12-06 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on 6 December 1993.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Template:Flag | 22 September 2000 | See Belarus-Myanmar relations |
| Template:Flag | 1993-07-19 | Belarus and Nepal established diplomatic relations on 19 July 1993.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992 | See Foreign relations of North Korea.
Relations were established in 1992.<ref name=":25">Template:Cite news</ref>
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| Template:Flag | See Pakistan–Belarus relations
Diplomatic relations were established on 3 February 1994.<ref name=":26">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-02-10<ref name="mofa.go.kr">Template:Cite web</ref> | See Belarus–South Korea relations
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Belarus started on 10 February 1992.
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| Template:Flag | 2000-11-20 | Bilateral relations were established on 20 November 2000.<ref name=":10">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | 1992-05-25 | See Belarus–Turkey relations
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| Template:Flag | 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | 27 December 1991<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
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Europe
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | 1992 |
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| Template:Flag | 1993-11-22 | Belarus and Bosnia and Herzegovina established bilateral relations on 22 November 1993.<ref name=":99">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-03-26 |
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| Template:Flag | 1992-09-25 | See Belarus–Croatia relations
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| Template:Flag | 1991 |
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| Template:Flag | 1993 |
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| Template:Flag | See Belarus–Denmark relations
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| Template:Flag | 1992-04-06 | Bilateral relations began on 6 April 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-02-26 |
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| Template:Flag | 1992-01 | Belarus and France established diplomatic relations in January 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1923 |
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| Template:Flag | See Belarus–Greece relations
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| Template:Flag | 1992-02-12 | Bilateral relations were established between Belarus and Hungary on 12 February 1992.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-03-27 | Belarus and Ireland established bilateral relations on 27 March 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-04-13 | Bilateral relations were established on 13 April 1992.<ref name=":11">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-04-07 | See Belarus–Latvia relations
The two countries signed a "Declaration on the Principles of Good-Neighborly Relations" on 16 December 1991 and established full bilateral relations on 7 April 1992.<ref name=":16">Template:Cite web</ref> Embassies were opened in both countries in 1993 and consulates general the following year.<ref name=":16" />
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| Template:Flag | 1992-12-30 | See Belarus–Lithuania relations
Both countries recognised each other's independence in December 1991, and signed an agreement on diplomatic relations on 30 December 1992.<ref name=":21">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1993-02-16 | Diplomatic relations were established on 16 February 1993.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-11-19 | Bilateral relations were established on 19 November 1992.<ref name=":23">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1994-03-24 | See Belarus–Netherlands relations
Bilateral relations began on 24 March 1992.<ref name=":24">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-03-02 | See Belarus–Poland relations
Belarus and Poland established bilateral relations on 2 March 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag |
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| Template:Flag | 1992-02-14 | See Belarus–Romania relations
Romania recognised the independence of Belarus on 20 December 1991 and bilateral relations were established on 14 February 1992.<ref name=":27">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-06-25 | See Belarus–Russia relations
Belarus and Russia established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1994-11-15 | See Belarus–Serbia relations
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| Template:Flag | 1993 |
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| Template:Flag | 1992-07-23 | Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 23 July 1992.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>
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| Template:Flag | 1992-02-13 | See Belarus–Spain relations
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| Template:Flag | 1992 |
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| Template:Flag |
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| Template:Flag | See Belarus–Ukraine relations
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| Template:Flag | 1991 | See Belarus–United Kingdom relations
Belarus established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 27 January 1992.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Both countries share common membership of the OSCE. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Agreement,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and an Investment Agreement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Oceania
[edit]| Country | Formal Relations Began | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Flag | 9 January 1992<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
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| Template:Flag | 9 April 1992 |
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See also
[edit]- Belarus–European Union relations
- Belarus–NATO relations
- List of diplomatic missions in Belarus
- List of diplomatic missions of Belarus
- Visa requirements for Belarusian citizens
References
[edit]Template:Foreign relations of Belarus Template:Belarus topics Template:Foreign relations of Europe