Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin frequently joke and argue over which of them qualifies as the bigger dictator, a remark that highlights the close political alignment between Moscow and Minsk as both leaders face sustained Western pressure.
Speaking at a youth forum in Minsk on Sept. 17, Lukashenko said he is often described in the West as Europe's last dictator and that he and Putin treat the label as a running joke between them. He said the two leaders debate which of them deserves the title more.
Lukashenko, 72, has ruled Belarus since 1994, making him Europe's longest-serving head of state. Putin has led Russia since 2012 and previously served as president from 2000 to 2008. The Belarusian leader, a former Soviet collective farm manager, is widely described as Putin's closest international partner and ally.
While Belarus has not committed ground troops to the war in Ukraine, it serves as a strategic staging ground for Moscow. According to the Kyiv Post, Belarus provides Russia with key weapons components and allows Russian forces to launch military strikes from Belarusian territory. An August report by Ukrainska Pravda also highlighted new railway construction in Belarus' Gomel Oblast near the Ukrainian border capable of handling military trains.
The strength of the Moscow-Minsk relationship comes as Western officials increase pressure on Russia and its allies, and as the two leaders are reported to be in frequent contact. After meeting in Moscow on Aug. 27, Lukashenko congratulated Putin on Sept. 21 following Russian election results. He praised what he called an unprecedented turnout of millions of voters and the majority secured by the United Russia party, describing the outcome as a proper response to cynical attempts from outside to discredit the campaign and sow discord.
Addressing the youth forum on political succession in Belarus, Lukashenko insisted no one is prepared to take over power. He rejected the idea that he is clinging to office, saying he has had his fill of power and could not want more of it. He added that the only question is whether anyone today is capable of taking over the country and holding on to it, and said he could not yet answer that question positively.
Lukashenko also said he became a dictator because he stood up against what he called the entire civilized world. Western nations maintain strict economic pressure on Minsk over human rights abuses. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys recently reiterated the Baltic nation's firm stance, saying there are no reasons for the position on Belarus to soften because Belarus is not changing its behavior, and that pressure on the regime must continue.
Despite international sanctions, Lukashenko announced on Sept. 11 that Belarus has begun selling potash, a primary export used in fertilizer, to the United States. While Western nations maintain economic restrictions over human rights abuses, U.S. sanctions on Belarusian potash were lifted after recent political prisoner releases, though European Union sanctions remain active.