“We are very much interested in our presence in this part of the world…” (c) Belarus’s relations with the Arab World in 1992-2012 (case study)
“We are very much interested in our presence in this part of the world…” (c) Belarus’s relations with the Arab World in 1992-2012 (case study)

Author(s): Siarhei Bohdan
Subject(s): International relations/trade, Geopolitics
Published by: BISS - Беларускі інстытут стратэгічных даследаванняў
Summary/Abstract: The relationship with the Arab World has always been one of the pillars of Belarus’s foreign policy and has showed a positive yet controversial development trend. Belarus has repeatedly shifted ist priorities in the region, first away from Iraq and Egypt, and then from Syria, most recently, to the well-off states of the Persian Gulf. The economic results of cooperation are way too modest compared to those political, but Belarus can’t do without the globally acknowledged sources of investments and critical markets, such as the Arab countries. In the meantime, the main challenge that Belarus is facing in its efforts to promote these relations is the nature of its foreign relations — this country is not sufficiently prepared to work with foreign business; moreover, there are serious objective discrepancies in the priorities of the Belarusian state and its Arab partners. // Belarus has accumulated a wealth of experience in the engagement with the Arab World over these years and has minimized the area of cooperation, which can compromise the already tense relations with the West. In this context, the country is on its way to pursuing a neutral policy towards promoting economic contacts. At the same time, there is an obvious problem with offering the Arab side truly appealing projects, hence some shady deals and projects to meet narrow personal interests of the investor, such as the ‘Qatari Island’ in Belarus.

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