There is no how Minsky’s relationship with the West will be talked about without Russia coming into the picture. Russia remains the largest and most important partner for Belarus both in the political and economic fields.Belarus–Russia relations are the bilateral relations between Belarus and Russia.
The two countries share a land border and constitute the supranational Union State. Several treaties have been concluded between the two nations bilaterally.
Russia is Belarus’ largest and most important economic and political partner. Both are members of various international organizations, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Eurasian Customs Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the United Nations.
You can’t be an ally of Russia and still be an ally of the West, but Minsk is changing the narrative.
It is true that Belarus has had it tough with the West, but in a diplomatic way. 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. A White House spokesman described the expulsion as “deeply disappointing”.
Efforts were made so that Belarus and the West can 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.
This proved to be correct when Belarus withdrew from the Partnership on 30 September 2011.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.
But also, it worths reporting that they have also had successful operations with the West. Belarus is portraying itself as a partner to West and Russia’s satellite.
