On February 28, Alexander Lukashenko flew to Beijing for talks with Xi Jinping. There are two versions of the topics of this meeting: negotiations on the supply of Chinese weapons to Russia through Belarus and, more plausibly, enlisting China's support in the economic sphere.
Political scientist Andrei Vigirinsky told Channel 24 about this. He is convinced that Lukashenka is leaving to enlist China's protectorate as one of the most powerful countries in the world.
The political scientist noted that Lukashenka has no interest in the successful completion of the war by Russia. For him, the consequences of participation in the war as an ally of Russia will be catastrophic.
If Lukashenka negotiates military cooperation with China and Russia in Beijing, his position will worsen even more, the expert stressed. In addition, this will cancel out all the attempts of China in the last week: an invitation to a coalition of Western countries for dialogue, theses on the prevention of unilateral sanctions and respect for territorial integrity.
As a superpower of global politics, you cannot, on the one hand, invite peace and dialogue, and, on the other hand, act like those you accuse, the speaker added.
Lukashenka will ask for patronage
According to Vigirinsky, Lukashenka's involvement in the war led to his economic isolation. The logistical shoulder of Belarus' exports lies through Russia, and Lukashenka does not have any special levers of influence on the Kremlin, and he urgently needs markets.
So Belarus becomes completely dependent on Russia. In order to somehow protect Belarus, it needs diversification, which lies at the pole of China's partner countries. It is China, and not Russia, that is the country around which they unite, the political scientist noted.
To whom are you going to ask for protection in front of the conditional middle brother, which for Belarus is Russia? To the elder brother, this elder brother is China,” the expert emphasized.
Vigirinskiy is convinced that Lukashenka is going to China for investments because he needs a financial market. Before the elections, he wants to show the people that he is developing the economy. They say that Belarus overcame a $5 billion financial downturn in trade over the past sanctions year with the help of partners. Obviously, Iran and China can be such partners.
More about the foreign policy of Belarus: watch the video
What is known about Lukashenka's visit to China
- The Belarusian dictator is leaving for China on a visit. It is scheduled from February 28 to March 2. Alexander Lukashenko said that he supposedly needs to “build friendship” with China.
- Experts suggest that the Belarusian dictator is leaving for China in order to be a “repeater of opinions”.
- Political scientist Oleg Sahakyan believes that Lukashenka was summoned to China by the head of the PRC, Xi Jinping. For the Belarusian dictator, this visit is like a demonstration that there is no isolation and that he is recognized.
