During a recent address to youth leaders in Minsk, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko disclosed that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin often engage in light-hearted banter and debate about who among them is the more prominent dictator. This playful rivalry highlights the strong connection between the two nations, particularly as Lukashenko remains Europe’s longest-serving leader.
Having been in power since 1994 and with Putin leading Russia since 2012, it’s apparent that both leaders share a long history of governance, albeit with various breaks in between for Putin.
Lukashenko, as reported by Novaya Gazeta, quipped, “You know what they say about me?” in his remarks on September 17. He went on to assert, “They say I’m the last dictator in Europe. Dictator — so be it. Well, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and I often argue, jokingly, about which of us is the bigger dictator.”
At 72, Lukashenko, formerly a collective farm manager in the Soviet era, has developed a reputation as Putin’s closest ally on the international stage. While Belarus hasn’t deployed troops to Ukraine, it has become a crucial base for Moscow, providing military assistance in the ongoing conflict.
Reports from the Kyiv Post indicate that Belarus supplies Russia with significant weaponry and allows military operations from its territory. An August update from Ukrainska Pravda noted new railway infrastructure in Gomel Oblast, enabling the movement of military trains closer to the Ukrainian border.
The relationship between the two countries is increasingly resilient, especially as Western officials ramp up pressure on Moscow and its associates. Following a meeting in Moscow on August 27, Lukashenko extended congratulations to Putin on September 21 after Russia’s election, praising the high voter turnout and expressing support for the United Russia party amid external criticisms.
In discussing political succession in Belarus at the youth forum, Lukashenko insisted that no suitable successor exists. “Never believe those who say that Lukashenko is ‘clinging to power with blue-knuckled hands’,” he contended, emphasizing his long tenure. “I have had my fill of this power to the point where I could not possibly want any more of it.”
“The only question is whether you are capable today of taking over the country and holding on to it,” he continued. “If you are, start tomorrow. To be frank, I cannot yet answer that question positively. Do not take offense.”
Lukashenko remarked that his dictatorship arose from his challenges against the “civilized world.” Meanwhile, Western countries continue to apply strong economic sanctions on Belarus. For instance, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys reiterated a refusal to ease pressure given Belarus’s persistent behaviors.
Lukashenko announced on September 11 that Belarus has started exporting potash—the primary ingredient in fertilizers—to the United States, despite ongoing international sanctions. While the U.S. lifted sanctions on Belarusian potash following the release of political prisoners, the European Union sanctions remain in effect.
