Context

Recently, on a 3-day Visit to India, Foreign Minister of Belarus Sergei Aleinik discussed Bilateral cooperation with India’s  External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.

About Belarus Country

• It Gained independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union.
• Physical Location: Situated in eastern Europe, it is a landlocked country, bordered by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest.
• Belarus Capital: The capital and largest city of this nation is Minsk. 
• Belarus Currency: The Belarusian Ruble (BYN) is the currency of Belarus.
• Language: The spoken languages include Belarusian (official, 24%) and Russian (official, spoken by 70% of the population). 
• River: The majority of the country lies within the Dnieper River basin and Mukhavyets, a tributary of the Bug River.

India Belarus Relations

• India was among the first countries to recognise Belarus as an independent nation in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. 
• Multilateral Cooperation: 
  • In multilateral forums such as the UN Security Council (UNSC) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). 
  • Belarus was crucial in supporting India’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the UNSC in July 2020. 
  • India has consistently supported Belarus in its endeavours, including its membership in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and participation in international groups like the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). 
• Partnerships A comprehensive partnership exists between the two nations such as Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), and the Joint Commission on Military Technical Cooperation. 
• Bilateral Agreements and Trade: Bilateral trade in 2022 amounted to US$ 223.77 million. Belarus is an important source of Potash fertilizers for India.
• Indian Diaspora: The Indian community in Belarus is small, consisting of approximately 85 nationals and 476 students, mostly enrolled in Belarusian medical universities.

News Source: AIR