Foreign Policy of the Republic of Belarus

After declaration of its independence the Republic of Belarus entered the world stage not only as a new sovereign state that appeared in the result of the collapse of the USSR but also as a European country with rich historical traditions of statehood.

Еstablished within the territory of modern Belarus Polotsk, Turov, Pinsk and other principalities (IX-XIV centuries)  and their successor – the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (mid. XIII-XVIII cent.) were active participants of international relations. Many representatives from Belarusian lands were employed in the diplomatic service of Rzeczpospolita and the Russian Empire.

Important milestones in the history of Belarusian diplomacy belong to the era of the Belorussian 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 the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Belarus, which received the status of a constitutional law on August 25, 1991.  It became a new turning point in the state’s development. Having exercised its natural right to self-determination, the Republic of Belarus, the official name of the country introduced by the relevant decision of the Supreme Council of the BSSR on September 19, 1991, started to conduct independent foreign policy.

Belarus developed its foreign policy course under difficult conditions of drastic geopolitical, economic and social transformations in the world that were highly intensive and dynamic.

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

Modern Belarus is a sovereign European state that pursues an independent and peaceful foreign policy, actively develops cooperation with strategic allies and foreign partners from all over the world. It is one of initiators and an active participant of regional integration structures and projects. The country significantly contributes to strengthening of international security and stability.

Main principles, goals and objectives of Belarus' foreign policy are defined in the Law “On Approval of the Basic Directions of Domestic and Foreign Policy of the Republic of Belarus” as of November 14, 2005 No. 60-Z. For more information, please, click here.

Currently Belarus has established diplomatic relations with 183 states of the world.

The network of Belarusian foreign missions is constantly modernized in order to adjust it to specific foreign policy and economy tasks and improve its effectiveness. As of September, 2024 there are 74 diplomatic missions: 57 Embassies, 2 Permanent Missions, 14 Consulates General and 1 Consulate. If to take into account Ambassadors with concurrent accreditation, Belarus is represented in more than 90 states.

Adhering to common approaches to the development of relations with its all foreign partners, Belarus at the same time, like any other state, concentrates its foreign policy efforts on a number of most important and promising vectors. For more information, please, click here.