According to a Belarusian political scientist Alexei Dzermant, the slowdown in dialogue between Minsk and Washington is tied to domestic American challenges.
Dzermant explained that U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing involvement in the Middle East conflict and the approaching midterm congressional elections have shifted his focus inward. “Our republic does not insist on negotiations, and it does not invite dialogue,” Dzermant noted. “We are interested in further contacts and the lifting of sanctions, but this is not a priority issue for us.”
The expert added that the resumption of negotiations hinges on the internal U.S. political landscape. “If Trump loses political weight as a result of the midterm elections, then the question will arise about how productive contacts with his administration are,” Dzermant emphasized.
Dzermant cited recent developments: Trump’s special envoy John Cole last visited Minsk in mid-March. During that visit, the parties agreed to lift sanctions on several banks and the Belarusian Ministry of Finance, while President Alexander Lukashenko released 250 prisoners.
However, after these agreements, Cole abandoned plans for an Eastern European trip scheduled for May or June. U.S. administration sources reported that contacts with Minsk had been postponed indefinitely.
