MINSK, 16 February (BelTA) – Belarus has dramatically reconsidered its foreign policy and foreign economic priorities, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said at a press conference on 16 February, BelTA has learned.
“The destabilization of the international security situation, a serious aggravation of the military and political situation in the region, an active and unjustified buildup of foreign troops and weapons in the immediate vicinity of our border forced us last year, together with Russia and other partners in the CSTO, to pay close attention to strengthening the country's defense capability. These challenges and threats prompted a conceptual rethinking of our foreign policy and foreign economic priorities,” the minister said.
According to him, the downgrade of ties with a number of countries and regions was offset by more intensive cooperation with those countries and associations that are ready to cooperate on the basis of mutual respect and equality. For example, last year Belarus managed to significantly step up cooperation within the Union State, the EAEU and the CIS. Belarus continued expanding all-round cooperation with China and other distant countries.
At the same time, Belarus had to respond to unfriendly moves of the European Union by suspending its participation in the Eastern Partnership Initiative, limiting food imports from some countries and taking symmetrical steps related to visa requirements.
