Foreign Policy of the Republic of Belarus

After declaration of its independence the Republic of Belarus entered the world stage as a new sovereign state, which appeared as a result of the collapse of the USSR, and as a European country with rich historic traditions of statehood.

Polotsk, Turov, Pinsk and other principalities (IX-XIV centuries), that were established on the territory of modern Belarus, and their successor – the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (mid. XIII-XVIII cent.) were active participants of international relations. Many representatives from belarusian lands went into diplomatic service of Rzeczpospolita and the Russian Empire.

Important milestones in the history of the belarusian diplomacy belong to the era of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (1919-1991), which became a full-fledged member of the United Nations and one of its founding states.

On July 27, 1990 the Supreme Council of the BSSR adopted a Declaration of State Sovereignty of Belarus. On August 25, 1991 that act was given a status of a Constitutional Law. It became a turning point in the state’s development. Having exercised its natural right to self-determination, the Republic of Belarus, that received its new official name after the relevant decision of the Supreme Council of the BSSR as of September 19, 1991, embarked on pursuing its independent foreign policy.

Belarus developed its foreign policy course under difficult conditions of drastic geopolitical, economic and social transformations in the world that were characterized by high intensity and dynamics. 

Despite objective difficulties, the independent Republic of Belarus managed to develop its international relations without sacrificing its national interests. It enabled our country to confidently and effectively promote and protect its foreign policy objectives and priorities.

Modern Belarus is a sovereign European state pursuing an independent and peaceful foreign policy, developing cooperation with strategic allies and foreign partners from all over the world, is one of initiators and an active participants of regional integration structures and projects, significantly contributing to strengthening of international security and stability.

As of today Belarusian interests abroad are represented by foreign offices in 57 states and taking into account ambassadors with concurrent accreditation – in 109 states.

Foreign states are represented in Belarus by 48 embassies, 4 branch offices of embassies, 3 trade missions, 39 consular offices; international organisations – by 18 missions. 91 foreign diplomatic missions based in Moscow, Vilnius, Warsaw and Kiev are concurrently accredited to Belarus.