In a significant development, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Belarusian Ambassador in response to critical remarks made by Belarusian President, Aleksandr Lukashenko. This incident highlights underlying tensions between Kazakhstan and Belarus – two nations with a shared historical backdrop and intricate political ties – and are emblematic of wider diplomatic rifts across the post-Soviet landscape.
Kazakhstan and Belarus have long enjoyed a multifaceted relationship which dates back to their time within the Soviet Union. Both are members of several regional organizations, including the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which aim to foster economic and political cooperation among former Soviet republics. Kazakhstan ranks second in terms of foreign trade of the Republic of Belarus within the CIS countries, with exports to Belarus totaling $153.07 million in 2023.
Since gaining independence in 1991, Kazakhstan and Belarus have navigated their transition to sovereign states with varying degrees of success. After brutally crushing a series of mass demonstrations in 2020-21, Lukashenko’s Belarus has drawn ever closer to its patrons in the Kremlin. Prior to suppressing these protests following what were widely deemed to be rigged elections, Lukashenko was perhaps best known in the popular Western consciousness for his suggestion that Covid could be cured by riding a tractor and drinking vodka.
In sharp contrast, in recent years, following the demise of long-standing former-President Nazarbayev and his clique, Kazakhstan has followed a very different trajectory, seeking to rein in corruption, guarantee the rule of law, and adopting a multi-vector approach to its foreign policy as its global standing rises.
In this latest incident, the diplomatic strain was triggered by President Lukashenko’s public criticism of Kazakhstan. During an interview with Russian state television, Lukashenko stated that: “We are not starting to cheat like some post-Soviet states. They want to take something from Russia, but give nothing in return… It won’t work that way… The time is not far away when you will come to the same Russia and ask for support and help. There is no one else to ask… Something happened in Kazakhstan – who was asked? China, India and Pakistan are nearby… No. Here, ‘Putin, Lukashenko – help!’ And we [CSTO troops] were transferred there.”
In a statement released following a meeting between Belarusian Ambassador Pavel Utyupin and Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Murat Nurtleu, Kazakhstan expressed concern over Lukashenko’s statement and offered up a rebuke: “Kazakhstan pursues a balanced and peaceful foreign policy in accordance with the UN Charter and the fundamental norms of international law,” the statement reads. “Our country is firmly convinced that all disagreements between states should be resolved by political and diplomatic means. In the current geopolitical conditions, the foreign policy course of the country developed by the head of state has proven its effectiveness.”
The summoning of the ambassador is an oft-used diplomatic tool in addressing grievances, whilst also opening a channel for dialogue and resolution. As members of the EAEU, both countries benefit from mutual trade agreements, and prolonged diplomatic discord could strain these ties. Kazakhstan is not alone in being irked by Lukashenko’s latest outburst, however. In the same interview, Lukashenko stated: “Who needs Armenians? Nobody. Let them develop their economy and rely on their own resources. What is France? Who is [French President Emmanuel] Macron? Tomorrow, when Macron is gone, everybody will forget about the Armenians.”
France has a large Armenian diaspora and is a strident supporter of Armenia, which has been drawing closer to the West. Following Lukashenko’s interview, the Belarusian Embassy in Yerevan was pelted with eggs, with the crowd calling for the Belarusian Ambassador to leave the country.
