Brotherhood, development, security: Russia and Belarus continue to move together
On January 26, 2000, the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State of Russia and Belarus came into force. This is the historical choice: our two countries cannot be separated. Details - in the material of "Izvestia".
On the ruins of the USSR
The collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991 was a tragedy for tens of millions of people. In the Soviet Union, big things were done by the "whole world", with the participation of many republics. Close relatives were separated by borders and customs barriers. Production ties developed over decades (or even centuries) were destroyed. Scientific schools were destroyed. For all the republics of the former USSR it was a dramatic, depressing process. But, perhaps, only citizens of Russia and Belarus, even in the first half of the 1990s, when the political elite rejected the idea of integration, showed an active civil position, not willing to put up with the policy of separation of friendly peoples. At first, active cooperation was between oblasts and regions. It was a civil initiative. Borders and differences in legislation hindered it. It became clear that the situation could be corrected only at the highest presidential and governmental level.
Time for a coordinated policy
Work on the project of the Union State, based on the principles of sovereign equality of the two participating countries, began in a time of crisis. Russia was conducting a counter-terrorist operation in the Caucasus. Both countries were characterized by a low standard of living. The economic structure of Russia and Belarus differed greatly: Minsk managed to preserve most of the Soviet industrial enterprises, while Russia at that time was betting on the advanced development of the financial block and the energy system. But the countries made steps towards each other, choosing the path of joint development. When discussing the treaty, Vladimir Putin noted that now it is time for "a coordinated policy in international and defense affairs, in social and cultural spheres". These areas still largely determine the tasks of the Russian-Belarusian alliance.
25 years ago, on January 26, 2000, the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State of Russia and Belarus came into force, which determined the strategic movement of the two friendly countries for many years ahead. On that day, a solemn ceremony of exchange of ratification certificates between the leaders of the two powers - Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko - took place in the Moscow Kremlin. The two brotherly countries came to the idea of unity despite the opposition of Western countries interested in expanding their influence in the post-Soviet space.
The parties agreed to pursue a coordinated foreign and defense policy, jointly create conditions to ensure a decent life and free development of citizens. The first meeting of the Supreme State Council and the Council of Ministers of the Union State was held on the same day.
Progressive movement
Not only economic but also cultural ties have been resumed. Since the spring of 2002, the Union State prizes have been awarded for works of literature and art that make a great contribution to strengthening the relations of brotherhood, friendship and all-round cooperation between the member states of the Union State. The first laureates of this award were the Belarusian writer Ivan Shamyakin, Belarusian playwright Alexei Dudarev and Russian actor Alexei Petrenko. Since then, such awards and meetings have become a tradition. The common informational and cultural space, which was almost lost in the 1990s and which is familiar and necessary for both countries, is being restored.
Russia and Belarus were approaching the model of "two countries - one economy". Every year together we became stronger and more competitive. The first notable achievement of the Union State was the common customs space. It creates conditions for the growth of economic ties. We have already got used to the fact that every citizen of Russia or Belarus can enter a neighboring country with internal documents, without a visa. They can open a business, study, get a job or receive medical care.
The basis of any economy is energy. A unified gas market is being created in the Union State, and the electricity system is also becoming unified. One of the most vivid examples of a successful economic project of the Union State and the two countries that formed it is the construction of Belarus' first nuclear power plant in the town of Astravets, Grodno Region. The project has boosted the development of science and technology in both the Russian Federation and Belarus. In October 2020, the nuclear reactor of the first power unit was commissioned, and in May 2023, the second power unit became operational. In addition to economic returns, such projects increase mutual trust between the peoples of our countries - and this is an invaluable asset for many years to come.
Physical start-up of the first power unit of BelNPP
The history of the Union State has known periods of active cooperation and anxious calm. But over the past three years, Russia and Belarus have traveled a path that in earlier times would have taken at least a decade. Joint assembly plants are being restored and opened in our countries. New agricultural machinery production facilities have been established in Krasnodar Krai, Novosibirsk Oblast, and Tatarstan. In Bashkiria, a new plant has been opened to produce grain drying complexes with the participation of a Belarusian manufacturer. Their products are in demand.
"President Vladimir Putin called "the heart of allied relations between Russia and Belarus" the "strengthening cooperation between our regions from year to year. This has been the tradition since the early years of the Union State, and today all regions of Russia, including new territories, maintain friendly relations with the regions of Belarus, sign contracts and implement common projects.
The Parliamentary Assembly - a single representative and legislative body of the Union of Belarus and Russia - is also working. Behind these political structures is the will of millions of people who support the rapprochement of the two states in all strategically important areas.
Common roots, common worldview
Belarus and Russia have preserved a similar, almost unified attitude to our common past. Both in Moscow and Minsk do not forget the feat of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War, the role of our peoples in the Victory. This is a memory that lives in every home. The Independence Day of the Republic of Belarus is celebrated on July 3 - the date of liberation from Hitler's invaders in 1944 - and it is our common holiday of military glory, reminding of the tragedies and victories of the Great Patriotic War.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko welcomed foreign diplomats on Independence Day on a square in Minsk. July 3, 1997.
Both Russia and Belarus do not intend to compromise their sovereignty in the name of globalist values, which have become a kind of political fetish in the West. Moscow and Minsk pursue a sovereign foreign policy - in their own national interests, not at the behest of the "global hegemon". The West's response to the independent policy of Moscow and Minsk has been unprecedented economic and political sanctions against our countries. Together Russia and Belarus are developing immunity to these "extraordinary measures".
The rapprochement of our countries is beneficial for the economy, increasing the potential of Belarus and increasing the opportunities of Russia. And the main thing is that this process is supported by the majority of our compatriots. It is unthinkable for them to consider Russia or Belarus "abroad".
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the ceremony of signing the interstate treaty
This is evidenced by numerous personal meetings between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, participation of Russian and Belarusian representatives in various international events, joint promotion of the Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity proposed by Minsk in 2024.
Guarantees of sovereignty
The most important task of the Union State is to ensure technical sovereignty. Belarusian enterprises participate in the most large-scale Russian projects in aircraft and shipbuilding. The two countries have signed a memorandum on deepening strategic cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy and related high technologies. The National Academy of Belarus and the Russian Kurchatov Institute are working on the creation of a research nuclear reactor in Belarus. The scientists of our countries have no secrets from each other, they work together. Scientific and technological integration has allowed RB to join the ranks of space nations. Belarusian satellites are launched, and the Space Information Reception Center operates in Minsk. All this is the fruit of joint efforts of researchers and designers.
The Union State programs include "Improvement of Border Security" and "Modernization of Logistics Facilities. Cooperation in the defense sector has become more effective and powerful in recent years. Russia views any threat of aggression against Belarus as an attempt on the independence of the entire Union State.
Su-30 multi-role fighter
Therefore, from 2024 Belarus is included in the updated Russian nuclear doctrine. Such modern systems as the Iskander missile defense system, the S-400 Triumf and Tor M2 air defense systems have been put on combat duty on the Belarusian territory. The skies of the Union State are protected by Su-30 fighter jets. Russian troops equipped with tactical nuclear weapons are stationed in Belarus. The deployment of the Oreshnik complex as an important element of strategic deterrence is under discussion. All this speaks of the unprecedented atmosphere of mutual trust that has been established in Moscow and Minsk.
Everyday work
For 2024, trade turnover between the brotherly countries, according to economists' estimates, reached $60 billion. This is an all-time high. In 2023, it was $53 billion, in pre-Kovy 2019 this figure did not exceed $33.3 billion and has been growing steadily since then. There is every reason to believe the trend will continue this year. Each of us can see the results of this interaction on store shelves.
Integration and interaction is a hard daily work. The union of two brotherly states is not immune to crises. The task of the new generation of citizens of Russia and Belarus is to preserve what has been worked for these years without compromising principles. It is enough to make one wrong diplomatic move, to weaken vigilance, to lose public trust - and the alliance will be under attack. But there can be no doubt that the long experience of political successes and retreats will help us to avoid such trials, and the union of Russia and Belarus will develop as consistently as in recent years - for the benefit of our citizens.
Over 25 years of close cooperation, the economic position of the two countries has become stronger, and the self-consciousness of the citizens has also changed, as they have returned to a patriotic worldview. The Union State is the most reliable political, economic and social alliance, which was born in difficult times but proved its vitality. A single civilizational space has been formed, connected with historical roots and directed towards the future. And most importantly, there is every reason to believe that the best years of our alliance are ahead of us.
The author is Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the journal "Historian"
