The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, convened with Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxim Ryzhenkov on March 18, 2025, to discuss key diplomatic and economic strategies aimed at enhancing the country's collaboration with various nations, particularly focusing on China and restoring trust with Western countries.
During this working meeting, held at the President's office, Lukashenko emphasized the importance of tracking international visits and advancing the development of cooperation plans. This meeting came shortly after Lukashenko's trip to Russia, indicating the strategic regional dynamics at play.
"During the meeting, we discussed the implementation of our steps and those of our partners for restoring trust with some Western states," Ryzhenkov reported afterwards. The conversations showcased Belarus's intent to mend relations and engage positively on the international scene, though specifics on the countries involved were not disclosed.
The President underscored the urgency of planning economic collaboration with China, stating, "It is very important to have clarity on how we will move forward with the People's Republic of China. This is Directive No. 9, which clearly outlines what we need to do." This directive signifies Belarus's strategic push to deepen economic ties with China, highlighting it as a top priority.
An additional pivotal topic of the meeting was the preparation for several significant foreign visits to Belarus. These included the anticipated arrivals of key political figures such as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the President of Guinea-Bissau, and the General Secretary of the Vietnam Communist Party. Ryzhenkov assured, "We are preparing thoroughly for all visits," reinforcing Belarus's commitment to international engagement.
On the broader front of economic alliances, the conversation also delved deep within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). With Belarus chairing the union this year, Lukashenko reminded the attendees of their obligation to address the internal structure and staffing of the Eurasian Commission. He remarked, "I promised to look seriously at the structure, headcount, and salary schedules of our Eurasian Commission. This is very important for our future negotiations and proposals." This reference indicated the strategic relevance the EAEU still holds for Belarus's foreign policy.
Lukashenko’s remarks included pointed discussions on the upcoming summit of the EAEU and his interest to carefully prepare for the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. The President conveyed to Ryzhenkov, "We need to discuss when and how we will approach these meetings." The emphasis on the EAEU reflects Belarus's commitment to leveraging regional economic blocs to bolster its international standing.
Beyond economic discussions, there was also mention of the pressing need to restore relationships with Western countries. The broadening of bilateral ties with different regions was highlighted, particularly with nations from the Middle East and Africa. Lukashenko pointedly noted, "We have talked about this extensively, but the main focus should be on our action plans and roadmaps to succeed."
Taking Oman as exemplar, where Lukashenko previously concluded his official visit, he asked Ryzhenkov about the next steps for engaging with Omani officials. "We visited Oman. How will we work with Oman? You were planning to go there; let’s meet with the responsible person to discuss how they foresee our future actions," he suggested. This reflects the Belarusian leadership's intent to follow up on previously established diplomatic ties.
Overall, this meeting serves as the latest indicator of Belarus's attempts to navigate both complicated international relationships and the internal dynamics of regional cooperation through structured diplomatic engagements. With Lukashenko continuing to push for detailed plans and strategies, the next few months are set to be pivotal as Belarus endeavors to solidify its global standings.
The future of Belarus's international relations appears to rest on carefully crafted diplomatic visits and proactive engagement with significant global players, trying to strike the right balance between East and West amid challenging geopolitical landscapes.
