Belarus and the U.S. start a new chapter in bilateral relations

The visit of US Presidential Assistant for National Security John Bolton has evidenced Washington’s growing interest in Belarus and her new role in the region.

Bolton’s visit to Minsk was the first highest-level visit in bilateral relations over the past 20 years. It has concluded the first stage of the cautious normalization policy the parties have been pursuing since 2013.

The subject matter and the tone of the talks suggest that Washington is increasingly considering Belarus as an independent player having own interests and foreign policy, with whom the U.S. could interact to address regional issues. Belarus, on her side, has emphasized the interest in further improving bilateral relations.

Simultaneously, Bolton’s visit to Minsk was rather a ‘fact-finding’ mission, not leading to any decisions or agreements.