Belarus and Russia

The strategic partnership between Belarus and Russia is based on the geographic location, close historic and cultural links between both countries and peoples, economic ties and cooperation between the Belarusian and Russian businesses.

Signed by the heads of states in 1999 the Agreement on Establishment of the Union State of Belarus and Russia sets up a legal basis for integration between the two countries.

According to the Agreement, Belarus and Russia defined a series of major goals: to ensure peaceful and democratic development, to establish a single economic and customs area and proper legal framework, to ensure sustainable economic development, to pursue the agreed foreign, defence and social policies, to ensure security and fight against crime.

Both countries move on all directions mentioned above gradually, taking into consideration the priority of social and economic matters. We develop our partnership under the unquestioned principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of both nations as well as due implementation of their international obligations.

Traditionally, Russia is both our key trade partner and a major export market for Belarusian manufactures.

At the end of 2022 the mutual trade between two countries increased by almost 15 percent. Russia accounts for more than half of the foreign trade of the Republic of Belarus.

Belarus and Russia are effectively developing cooperation in such areas as energy, transport and industrial cooperation. In 2022, joint projects were launched for the production of import-substituting products based on the flagships of the Belarusian industry.

Along with cooperation in the framework of the Union State both countries support strengthening of multilateral cooperation and participate actively in other integration projects in the post-Soviet area.

Belarus and Russia consider the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) as the most advanced integration community in the post-Soviet area which helps its member-states to create conditions necessary for the free flow of goods, services and capital and unimpeded movement of labour force as well as equal conditions and guaranties for economic agents.

Belarus and Russia coordinate effectively their foreign policies according to the Programme of agreed measures in the field of foreign policy renewed every two years.

We have already achieved significant results in the field of security and defence, antiterrorist activities, fight against crime and signed a number of bilateral agreements in the field of military and technical cooperation.

Belarus and Russia have set up a joint regional military force which operates effectively. The two countries coordinate their air defence systems, perform joint military exercises, consider a number of questions regarding operative and combat training.

Law enforcement activities are being constantly improved. We continue to build a unified crime database in the sphere of fight against crime. On the territories of both states we take coordinated measures to prevent, reveal and suppress crimes, terrorist acts and human trafficking. On our western border we keep on performing joint actions against drug trafficking and illegal migration.

Our major priority is to make sure that citizens of Belarus and Russia have equal rights. Both countries work to launch a single system of social guarantees and gradually unify national legislations on labour issues.

Today the Belarusians and the Russians have equal opportunities as far as employment, choice of residence, education, healthcare and social protection are concerned.

Crossing the border between Belarus and Russia the citizens of the two countries do not need to undergo any passport and customs controls or to receive and fill in a migration card.

The two countries enhance their cultural cooperation. One of our biggest and most renowned joint cultural projects is the annual festival Slaviansky Bazar in Vitebsk. A number of other joint art, theatre and cinema festivals are held by our countries annually.

Our cooperation with Russia embraces many other areas. Joint programmes in science, R&D, industry, construction, innovations, new technologies and IT form an effective mechanism allowing to fast-track integration between the Belarusian and Russian enterprises.

Brought into life, these programmes contribute significantly to competitiveness of the goods manufactured, exploitation of manufacturing facilities at full capacity, creation of new jobs and improvement of export potential of enterprises of both countries.

The Belarusian-Russian dialogue is a close interaction in all spheres of cooperation maintained and developed for the benefit of the fraternal peoples of the two countries.

To learn more about cooperation with Russian regions click here
To learn more about trade and investment cooperation with Russia click here

⇒ Belarus in International Relations