Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russia has had a loyal ally: Alexander Lukashenko’s Belarus. Relations between Moscow and Minsk are becoming ever closer, as shown by the delivery of nuclear weapons to the country ruled by Lukashenko. Many meetings have taken place in recent months and it was even the Belarusian leader who mediated after the Wagner Group mutiny.
And a recent visit by North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has sparked interest in a new “triple alliance”: Russia, Belarus and North Korea. “I think we can think about triangular cooperation,” the Belarusian president said after a summit with Putin in Sochi. “I know Koreans are very interested in you. I think that, given the existing problems, a job for Belarus can also be found there.”
Likewise, Lukashenko claims to have “carefully” followed the talks between Putin and Kim Jong-un during the North Korean leader’s visit to his Russian counterpart at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. A meeting to which Kim arrived in an armored train and which lasted more than four hours.
A reason for joy for the Belarusian president, as it reminded him of a previous visit to the same place. “I was very happy to see you with Kim Jong-un at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, because I was also with you.” A meeting that took place in April 2022, just two months after the outbreak of war.
Russia looking for “opportunities”
Meanwhile, the Russian president confirmed that the Kremlin would continue to look for ways to strengthen its ties with North Korea “without hurting anything.” A clear reference to the UN Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang. This week marked Lukashenko’s fifth visit to Russia so far this year and the first since the death of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
The meeting also served to announce the delivery of up to 60 tons of fuel from Belarus to Russia. According to Lukashenko, his country “has complied with the request of the Russian government to deliver about 60 tons of gasoline and diesel to the country.” “There are not only disruptions in the energy market, but also difficulties in purchasing fuel,” he assured.
