Us-Belarus Tensions: Geopolitical Reasons For Discord

Belarus and the US have had a rocky relationship since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The US has accused Belarus of violating human rights, while Belarus has accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs.

The US has been critical of the authoritarian rule of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994. Lukashenko has been accused of rigging elections, cracking down on political dissent, and repressing human rights. The US has imposed sanctions on Belarus and targeted Lukashenko and his associates with financial restrictions.

In response, Belarus has expelled US diplomats and recalled its own ambassadors from Washington. Belarus has also accused the US of meddling in its internal affairs, including by supporting the opposition and dissidents.

The relationship between the two countries reached a new low following the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, which was widely seen as rigged in Lukashenko's favor. The US refused to recognize the election results and sided with the opposition, prompting Belarus to align more closely with Russia.

In recent years, Belarus has also been accused of enabling Russia's invasion of Ukraine by allowing Russian troops to use its territory as a staging ground for attacks. This has further strained relations between the US and Belarus, with the US imposing additional sanctions on Belarus.

The US has accused Belarus of violating human rights, and Belarus has accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs

The United States has accused Belarus of violating human rights, and Belarus has accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs. These accusations have led to a strained relationship between the two countries, with diplomatic ties being cut off at various points in time.

The US has long accused Belarus of violating human rights and suppressing political dissent. These accusations include arbitrary arrests, detentions, and torture by security forces, as well as restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, and association. In response to these accusations, the US has imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on Belarusian officials.

On the other hand, Belarus has accused the US of interfering in its internal affairs, particularly through the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004, which Belarus believes interferes with its internal affairs. Belarus has also accused the US of supporting the opposition and encouraging protests.

The relationship between the US and Belarus has been marked by periods of improvement and deterioration. Following the 2014 Ukrainian crisis, the US and Europe sought to pull Belarus away from Russia's influence and improve relations. This led to a period of improving bilateral relations, with the US ending some sanctions and Belarus releasing political prisoners. However, this period was short-lived, as the US later refused to recognize the results of the 2020 Belarusian presidential election, leading to a deterioration in relations once again.

The US has also accused Belarus of supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Belarusian territory being used as a hub for Russian attacks. This has further strained relations between the two countries, with the US imposing additional sanctions on Belarus.

The US condemned the 2006 Belarusian presidential election as neither free nor fair, and imposed sanctions on the country

The US-Belarus relationship has been strained for years, with the US supporting a sovereign and independent Belarus that respects the rights and voices of its people. In 1991, the US recognised the independence of the Republic of Belarus, and the two countries established diplomatic relations. However, the US has frequently criticised Belarus's authoritarian regime, led by Alexander Lukashenko since 1994.

The US condemned the 2006 Belarusian presidential election as neither free nor fair and imposed sanctions on the country. The election, held on 19 March 2006, resulted in a victory for incumbent President Lukashenko, who received 84.4% of the vote. However, Western observers, including the US, deemed the elections rigged. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) declared that the election "failed to meet OSCE commitments for democratic elections". The US had already placed sanctions on Belarus due to past election issues, and the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 allowed assistance to be provided to political parties and NGOs.

Following the 2006 election, the US implemented additional travel restrictions and targeted financial sanctions on nine state-owned entities and 16 individuals, including Lukashenko. The US Congress had previously issued warnings that such measures would be imposed if there were human rights violations during the elections. Belarus responded by expelling the US Ambassador along with 30 out of 35 US diplomats in 2008, after the US tightened sanctions due to worsening human rights abuses.

The US-Belarus relationship continued to be marked by tensions and disagreements over the next few years, with the US criticising Belarus's lack of democratic principles and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. In 2015, the US provided limited sanctions relief after Lukashenko released Belarus's six remaining political prisoners. However, relations deteriorated again following the disputed 2020 presidential election, in which Lukashenko claimed victory over the opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The US, along with the EU, refused to recognise the results and imposed additional sanctions on various actors implicated in the election and the subsequent crackdown on civil society.

The US has supported the Belarusian opposition, which has protested against the results of the 2020 presidential election

The US has a history of supporting democratic movements and promoting democratic principles, respect for human rights, and fundamental freedoms in Belarus. This includes providing assistance to independent media and capacity-building for civil society organizations. Since 1992, the US government has provided over $1 billion in foreign assistance to Belarus, including over $2 million in COVID-19-related assistance.

Following the 2020 presidential election in Belarus, which was widely believed to be fraudulent and rigged in favour of incumbent Alexander Lukashenko, the US refused to recognize Lukashenko's victory and openly sided with the opposition. This was not the first time the US had questioned the legitimacy of an election in Belarus; in 2006, the US imposed travel restrictions and targeted financial sanctions on several individuals, including Lukashenko, due to concerns about the fairness of the election.

The 2020 election sparked mass protests across Belarus, with up to 200,000 participants, which were met with violent repression, including thousands of arrests and reports of torture. The US responded by imposing additional sanctions and visa restrictions on various actors implicated in the disputed election and the subsequent crackdown on civil society.

The US has also supported the Belarusian opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who has accused the Lukashenko regime of accepting Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied territories. Tsikhanouskaya has called on the US to provide material support to the Belarusian democracy movement abroad and tighten sanctions on Lukashenko. She has also urged the US to appoint a special envoy for Belarus to help coordinate a whole-of-government strategy and act as a "bridge" between the opposition and the US government.

The US has designated several Belarusian individuals and entities for sanctions due to their support for and facilitation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This includes entities in the defence and financial sectors, which have close ties to Russia. The US Department of the Treasury has stated that the Lukashenko regime has sacrificed its legitimacy to suppress the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people and is now jeopardizing Belarus's sovereignty by supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The US has criticised Belarusian support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and imposed sanctions on the country

The United States has been critical of Belarus's support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine and has imposed sanctions on the country. The US has targeted Belarusian individuals and entities with close ties to Russia, particularly in the defense and financial sectors. These sanctions aim to disrupt Belarus's military and financial capabilities and hold Belarusian elites accountable for their role in the conflict.

The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned 24 Belarusian individuals and entities due to their country's support for and facilitation of the Russian invasion. This includes entities and individuals in the defense and security industries, such as the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant (MZKT), a state-owned enterprise that supplies vehicle chassis to Russia and Iran. The US has also targeted Belarusian banks, including Belinvestbank and Bank Dabrabyt, which are among the largest financial institutions in the country.

The sanctions have significant economic implications for Belarus, as they target nearly one-fifth of the country's financial sector. Belarusian banks designated for sanctions include those with close ties to major Russian financial institutions such as Sberbank, VTB Bank, and VEB. The US has also imposed restrictions on Sberbank, VTB, and VEB, which will have downstream effects on the Belarusian economy due to its reliance on these Russian financial institutions.

The US Secretary of the Treasury, Janet L. Yellen, stated that the sanctions are intended to disrupt Belarus's military and financial capabilities and hold the Lukashenka regime accountable for sacrificing its legitimacy to suppress the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people. The sanctions are also meant to impose severe economic pain on the Lukashenka regime, given the interconnectedness between Belarus and Russia.

The US has previously imposed sanctions on Belarus in response to the degradation of democracy in the country, particularly following the fraudulent August 2020 presidential election. The US and its allies have targeted the Lukashenka regime for eroding democracy and becoming increasingly subservient to Russia. Proposed amendments to the Belarusian constitution are expected to pave the way for increased Russian influence in Minsk.

The US has encouraged Belarus to undertake economic reforms and privatisation, but progress has been slow

The US has long encouraged Belarus to undertake economic reforms and privatisation, but progress has been slow. The US has pushed for Belarus to conclude and adhere to agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on macroeconomic stabilisation and reform measures, as well as to create a more business-friendly environment. However, the Belarusian authorities have been reluctant to implement the systemic economic reforms necessary to transition to a market-based economy. The state sector accounts for half of all employment and 60-70% of GDP, and Belarus's opaque legal and regulatory systems, as well as rule of law deficiencies, create a challenging business environment.

Since August 2020, the Belarusian authorities have increased pressure on private businesses. This has further discouraged American direct private investment in Belarus, which has been relatively slow due to the uncertain pace of reform. An Overseas Private Investment Corporation agreement signed in June 1992 was suspended in 1995 due to Belarus's failure to fulfil its obligations. Belarus is eligible for Export-Import Bank short-term financing insurance for US investments, but no projects have been initiated due to the adverse business climate.

The US has also imposed sanctions on several Belarusian individuals and companies for undermining democratic processes, committing human rights abuses, and engaging in public corruption. These sanctions freeze the assets of the designated persons and companies in the US and prohibit transactions with them. As of January 2017, the sanctions list included President Alexander Lukashenko, his son and national security assistant Viktor Lukashenko, and several former ministers and heads of state agencies.

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