As before, Belarus is set to strengthen mutually beneficial relations with all foreign partners, Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he hosted a meeting to discuss foreign policy.The international situation remains tense, and the pandemic is not the only reason for that, the head of state noted. New challenges and threats, including threats to economic security, have emerged. Belarus has to respond to them, the president stressed:

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There was another flare-up in the territory of the former Soviet Union. This time in Nagorno-Karabakh. The armed conflict between our close partners Armenia and Azerbaijan, which came to an end, will, most likely, continue in the diplomatic field.

There are still ongoing wars in the Middle East and North Africa where Belarus has economic interests. Belarus is also concerned about rising discontent in Europe that is fueled by coronavirus restrictions and Islamist terrorist attacks.

The recent presidential election in the USA adds uncertainty to the international situation because it is unclear what Washington’s future policy will be, Aleksandr Lukashenko added. He also mentioned the tense situation in Belarus itself. “But even in this situation, we, as before, will be working to strengthen mutually beneficial ties with all our foreign partners,” the head of state said.