{"id":202165,"date":"2026-09-02T13:59:45","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T10:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/202165\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T13:59:47","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T10:59:47","slug":"lukasenka-mutes-criticism-of-washington-ahead-of-us-envoys-visit","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/202165\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0141uka\u0161enka mutes criticism of Washington ahead of US envoy\u2019s visit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Alaksandar \u0141uka\u0161enka used a softer version of his trademark anti-American rhetoric at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek on September 1, as he looks forward to a visit by US Envoy John Coale expected in Minsk later this month.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n (Belarusian leader's website, Tim Hufner (unsplash.com), Pozirk \/ Pozirk's collage)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler accused unspecified \u201cpowers that be\u201d of employing \u201cdirect, full-scale military aggression,\u201d in addition to color revolutions and hybrid influence. Clearly, his criticism was not directed at Russia, as Russian President Vladimir Putin was attending the session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka: SCO not doing enough<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian leader seized the opportunity to urge Beijing, New Delhi and Moscow to do more to shape a multipolar world order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with Nomad TV<\/em>, he noted that SCO members have a huge population and colossal resources but have taken \u201cfew specific actions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He expressed dismay at the SCO\u2019s lack of response to economic sanctions against its members, tariffs and the recent military campaign against Iran, without naming the United States as responsible for any of these actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said he wished that \u201cno one in the world could make a move without a nod of approval\u201d from the SCO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caution ahead of Coale\u2019s visit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka criticized the United States without mentioning it by name because he is interested in maintaining engagement with Washington. Coale said several days ago that he planned to visit Minsk in mid-September to secure the release of a new group of 200\u2013300 political prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belarus has nearly 900 documented political prisoners at present. Donald Trump\u2019s team has said it seeks the release of all of them. Therefore, Coale\u2019s September visit is unlikely to be his last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multipolar order vs. democracy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka advocates a multipolar world order because he sees democracy and human rights as unnecessary, or even as a major challenge to authoritarian regimes. The West has condemned him for human rights abuses throughout his more than 30 years in power. Other global powers that are supposed to counterbalance the United States, including China, never criticize him for election rigging and political repression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He feels comfortable and respected at events dominated by Global South countries, where he can even criticize major world leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, at this SCO summit, while criticizing China, India and Russia for not being proactive enough, he said, \u201cIf we waste our time, we can become the United Nation as it is now.\u201d The jab was directed at UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who was present at the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such events provide plenty of material for pro-\u0141uka\u0161enka propaganda. State media portray him as a major global player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the SCO has limited influence, and its members are divided by major political and geopolitical differences. Communist China and democratic India remain at odds, while India has long been in conflict with Pakistan. Moscow, meanwhile, is increasingly dependent on China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is difficult to expect a cohesive policy from an organization with so many contradictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multipolar order gives more room for maneuver<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler seeks a meaningful counterweight to Moscow and greater room for maneuver on the international stage in order to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions. So far, China has fallen short of his expectations as a counterweight to Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s and Putin\u2019s interests diverge. In light of CIA Director John Ratcliffe\u2019s recent visit to Moscow, observers are wondering whether his mission was to warn Russia against an escalation in the region amid Ukrainian intelligence reports that the Kremlin is contemplating an attack on a NATO country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u0141uka\u0161enka is not particularly enthusiastic about Russia using Belarus for an attack on Ukraine or a NATO ally. Kyiv has already warned him against providing support for the Russian war effort. The Belarusian ruler is reluctant to participate in any Russian operation against a NATO country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, he is probably also thinking about mending ties with Europe in order to have potash sanctions lifted or eased. After all, shipping potash fertilizers to China through the Lithuanian port of Klaip\u0117da is more profitable than sending the crop nutrients by freight train through Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To secure licensed spare parts for his Boeing, he had to engage with US President Donald Trump. A multipolar order, therefore, would not completely relieve him of the need to maintain relations with the West and make concessions to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minsk is now hoping that Washington will put pressure on the European Union to ease sanctions on Belarus. One Belarusian state media host said on a recent talk show that it would take a single phone call from Washington to force Lithuania to lift its potash transit ban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, the Belarusian ruler is eager to attend another summit \u2014 that of the Board of Peace formed by Trump. He joined the board in January but was not present at its first meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia has not joined it, and Moscow may resent \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s participation in US-led initiatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Belarusian ruler hopes that \u201cno one in the world could make a move without a nod of approval\u201d from the SCO. In reality, however, he is finding it increasingly difficult to make a move without Moscow\u2019s approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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