Understanding Belarus: America's Perspective On A Little-Known Country

The United States and Belarus have had a rocky relationship since the US recognised Belarusian independence in 1991. The US has encouraged Belarus to adopt democratic institutions and a more open society, but the latter has been reluctant to undertake systemic economic reforms. The US has also accused Belarus of violating human rights, while Belarus has accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs. These tensions have resulted in the expulsion of diplomats and the implementation of sanctions and travel restrictions. Despite this, the US has provided over $1 billion in foreign assistance to Belarus since 1992, including over $2 million in COVID-related aid. In recent years, the US has advised its citizens not to travel to Belarus due to safety concerns and the country's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The US recognised Belarus' independence in 1991

Interstate relations between the US and Belarus began in 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. On 25 December 1991, the United States recognised the independence of the Republic of Belarus, and on 28 December, the two countries established diplomatic relations.

The US had previously recognised the independence of Belarus on 25 August 1991, when the Byelorussian SSR gave the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Republic constitutional status. However, this was not the official recognition of independence, as Belarus was still part of the Soviet Union at the time.

On 19 September 1991, the Permanent Representative of the Byelorussian SSR, Hienadz Buraukin, informed the office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations that the country would officially henceforth be known simply as "Belarus".

On 10 December 1991, the Supreme Soviet of Belarus ratified the Belavezha Accords, which formally declared the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Independence was formally received on 26 December 1991, in connection with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The US Embassy in Minsk was officially opened on 31 January 1992, with John Ford as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim. The first US Ambassador to Belarus, Ambassador David H. Swartz, officially assumed his post on 25 August 1992 – the first anniversary of Belarusian independence.

The US has imposed sanctions on Belarus

The US has a complex relationship with Belarus, with interstate relations beginning in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The US recognised the independence of the Republic of Belarus on 25 December 1991, and the two countries established diplomatic relations on 28 December 1991.

However, relations have since soured, with the US accusing Belarus of violating human rights, and Belarus accusing the US of interfering in its internal affairs. The US has imposed sanctions on Belarus in response to its human rights violations and attacks on democratic processes and institutions. These sanctions have targeted individuals and companies, including President Alexander Lukashenko, his son and national security assistant Viktor Lukashenko, and multiple former ministers and heads of state-owned media and security organisations.

In 2006, the US introduced travel restrictions and targeted financial sanctions on nine state-owned entities and 16 individuals, including Lukashenko. In 2008, the US tightened these sanctions due to worsening human rights abuses, leading Belarus to expel the US ambassador and 30 out of 35 US diplomats.

Following the fraudulent 2020 presidential election, in which Lukashenko claimed victory over popular opposition candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the US imposed additional sanctions and visa restrictions on various actors implicated in the disputed election and the related crackdown on civil society. These sanctions targeted 19 individuals, 14 entities, and one aircraft, including persons involved in supporting Russia's war in Ukraine through military resource production and transshipment of goods, sanctions evasion, and revenue generation for Belarusian oligarchs.

The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has also designated several Belarusian companies and individuals pursuant to Belarus-related Executive Order (E.O.) 14038 and Russia-related E.O. 14024. These designations target persons and entities providing support to Russian defence activities and the invasion of Ukraine, as well as those involved in human rights abuses and the undermining of democracy in Belarus.

The US has made it clear that it supports a sovereign, independent Belarus that respects the rights and voices of its people. US assistance to Belarus focuses on promoting democratic principles, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and capacity-building for civil society organisations. However, the US has also urged Belarus to undertake systemic economic reforms to create a market-based economy and improve the business environment.

The US has criticised Belarus for human rights abuses

The US has also taken issue with the Belarusian government's disregard for the freedoms of speech, press, religion, and association. This includes the government's censorship and closure of independent media outlets, as well as the persecution of journalists and opposition politicians.

The US has further criticised the Belarusian government for its treatment of religious and ethnic minorities, including Jews, Protestants, and the Romani community. The US has also expressed concern over the Belarusian government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the repression of independent civil society organisations and the lack of systemic economic reforms.

Overall, the US has characterised Belarus as "Europe's last dictatorship", and the US has imposed sanctions on Belarusian officials and entities in response to human rights abuses.

Belarus has accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs

Belarus and the United States have had diplomatic relations since 1991, when the latter recognised the former's independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. However, the relationship between the two countries has been strained due to accusations of human rights violations and interference in internal affairs.

In 2008, Belarus recalled its ambassador from Washington and asked the US Ambassador to leave Minsk. This was in response to the US tightening sanctions on Belarus due to worsening human rights abuses.

The US has accused Belarus of violating human rights, including the repression of political dissent and human rights abuses. In 2001, the US condemned Belarus for election irregularities that led to the re-election of Alexander Lukashenko. The US has also accused Belarus of providing a safe haven for Saddam Hussein and his sons during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In turn, Belarus has accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs. In 2020, Lukashenko claimed that Belarus was the victim of a "hybrid war" and that the US was preparing "dirty tricks". He also said that security forces had arrested a number of US citizens before the country's presidential election.

The US has introduced sanctions against Belarusian individuals and companies, including Lukashenko and his son, for undermining democratic processes, committing human rights abuses, and engaging in public corruption. The Belarusian government believes that these sanctions interfere with its internal affairs.

The US has also denounced Belarus for forcing a Ryanair flight to land in its territory in 2021 and suspended its embassy in Belarus in 2022 due to intelligence that the country was preparing to invade Ukraine with Russia.

Despite the tensions, the US has provided over $1 billion in foreign assistance to Belarus since 1992 and the two countries have exchanged ambassadors. However, the relationship remains challenging due to Belarus's authoritarian rule and lack of economic reforms.

The US has provided foreign aid to Belarus

Interstate relations between the United States and Belarus began in 1991 when the US recognised the independence of the Republic of Belarus after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Since then, the US has provided over $1 billion in foreign assistance to Belarus. This aid has focused on promoting democratic principles and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including supporting independent media and capacity-building for civil society organisations.

US assistance to Belarus has also included support for economic reform. The US has encouraged Belarus to conclude and adhere to agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on macroeconomic stabilisation and related reform measures, as well as to undertake privatisation and create a favourable business and investment climate. However, the development of American direct private investment in Belarus has been relatively slow due to the uncertain pace of reform.

The US has also provided support for demilitarisation and defence conversion. Under the Nunn-Lugar Program, the US has signed agreements with Belarus to dismantle nuclear weapons and provide assistance in defence conversion, export control, housing for demobilised military personnel, and environmental restoration. The US supported Belarus's decision to become a non-nuclear state and values its adherence to the strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In addition, the US has provided humanitarian relief and support to the social sector in Belarus, including funding for a Blood Transfusion Centre at the Emergency Treatment Hospital in Gomel. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the US government provided over $2 million in COVID-related assistance to Belarus.

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