Opinions & Interviews

FM: Belarus should continue multi-vector foreign policy

MINSK, 11 February (BelTA) – Belarus should continue the multi-vector foreign policy, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said as he addressed the 6th Belarusian People's Congress in Minsk on 11 February, BelTA has learned.

The current geopolitical environment is difficult, the minister said. But many Belarusian achievements are the result of the multi-vector policy. The question of what the foreign policy of Belarus should be is of concern to many. Article 18 of the Constitution stipulates that the Republic of Belarus pledges itself to make its territory a neutral, nuclear-free state. The first Belarusian People's Congress opted for a multi-vector foreign policy taking into account our geopolitical situation and other subjective factors,’ Vladimir Makei said.

“Today, especially in view of the heightened tensions with the West, we hear various opinions once again. They call our political course tightrope walking, opportunism, sitting on several chairs at once, and so on. Some predict if not the end of history but definitely the end of our multi-vector policy or Belarus’ foreign policy altogether,” he noted.

Belarus is located on the geopolitical crossroads between the East and the West, Vladimir Makei stressed. “No matter how vehemently some refuse to admit this, I strongly believe that the main reason for last year’s events was the geopolitical conflict between the opposing interests of powerful global players. Let’s be realistic: our geographic vulnerability or, in other words, the geopolitical dilemma is still a thing,” the foreign minister said.

If Belarus wants to remain a sovereign state, it should remain committed to the multi-vector foreign policy, which goes in line with its national interests, Vladimir Makei believes.

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