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"On Point"
MINSK, 15 September (BelTA) – Doctor of Historical Sciences, political analyst Nikolai Platoshkin shared his insights on what might be behind the visit of the U.S. delegation to Belarus in the latest episode of the V Teme [On Point] project on BelTA’s YouTube channel.
Speaking about the recent meeting of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko with U.S. president’s representative John Coale, Nikolai Platoshkin recalled that Donald Trump had on multiple occasions expressed support for a normalization of bilateral relations.
These talks in Minsk were special. John Coale delivered a warm message from Donald Trump and his wife to the Belarusian leader and also announced the lifting of sanctions from the Belarus’ airline Belavia.
“There are two possible interpretations [of these events]. The first option is that it is indeed high time to normalize relations because they themselves cannot quite comprehend the situation anymore. Many sanctions against Belarus were imposed more than 25 years ago. Just think how many U.S. presidents they had since then... And they also do not fully grasp: what is the point?”
Nikolai Platoshkin noted that previous U.S. administrations and Europe accused Belarus of undemocratic elections. However, earlier this year the European Union itself came under criticism from the United States. At the Munich Security Conference, U.S. Vice President JD Vance strongly criticized European countries for departing from democratic principles during election campaigns.
Donald Trump himself once expressed outrage about the electoral system – not in Belarus, but in the United States. “Trump seems to have changed sides completely, having realized the hypocrisy of these accusations. Trump likely thinks: if this can happen to me, why could not a similar smear campaign occur against Belarus. This explains such a move towards Belarus,” the expert believes.
Therefore, by making certain gestures, the United States may simply want a normalization of relations, Nikolai Platoshkin concluded.
“The second option implies a hidden agenda: their aim might be to pull Belarus away from Russia. Roughly speaking: ‘What are you doing with these Russians? Come with us, and you will have a good, wonderful, long life.’ That could also be an option,” the expert suggested. “Although I think that most likely, for now, Trump just seeks to normalize relations with Belarus. This is perceived very negatively in Europe. Remember, they used to call Lukashenko ‘the last dictator.’ Now it turns out that from the U.S. point of view they are all dictators there.”
According to Nikolai Platoshkin, Trump is fighting prejudices, demonstrating a willingness to engage with all sides, even opponents, and does not hesitate to criticize Europe. “This is a rather serious shift [in U.S. foreign policy],” the political analyst stated.
At the same time, the expert added, not the entire political elite in the United States shares the U.S. leader’s approaches: “It is possible that these anti-Russian and anti-Belarusian factions might be reasoning: while Trump is busy improving ties with Minsk, we might ultimately succeed in pulling Belarus away from Russia.”
Nikolai Platoshkin also suggested a possibility that the Trump Administration’s engagement with Belarus aims to annoy its opponents, as if to say ‘you do not like Lukashenko? Great!
Then we will be friends with him.’“Many of Trump’s steps, unfortunately, do not yet seem long-term to me,” he said. “And note, the U.S. president is doing things that do not require involvement of the Congress, or other parties. He can write a letter to Lukashenko together with Melania or lift sanctions from Belarus. I will do it, and then will see how it goes, roughly speaking.”
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