EU at risk of falling apart as global force, Belarus leader says

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has warned that the European Union could lose its position as one of the key pillars of the global order amid internal divisions and mounting tensions within the bloc.

According to BelTA, Lukashenko made the remarks while delivering his annual address to the Belarusian people and parliament. In his speech, he outlined what he described as the current global balance of power, naming China, Russia and the United States as the three principal poles of influence.

“In the world, there are three poles of power — China, Russia and the United States. In fact, I also consider the European Union to be a fourth pillar. But taking into account their internal discord and hysterical demands, that pole could collapse,” Lukashenko said. He added that India is also increasingly emerging as a new centre of global attraction.

The Belarusian leader also claimed that Minsk has succeeded in overturning what he described as a Western narrative portraying the country as isolated and closed off from the outside world.

“We have broken the myth created by the West about the closed nature and isolation of our country, which is confirmed by any global rankings. Belarus has entered the top 50 most visited countries by tourists, taking 48th place,” Lukashenko said.

He noted that more than 250,000 European citizens visited Belarus this year under the visa-free regime, despite significant restrictions at the country’s borders. According to Lukashenko, these visitors were able to personally assess conditions in the country.

Turning to economic issues, Lukashenko stressed that Belarus has preserved and strengthened its industrial base, which he described as a key achievement under current geopolitical conditions.

“We have preserved and expanded a strong real sector of the economy, without destroying or squandering anything from the Soviet legacy. In the global industrial competitiveness ranking, we occupy 56th place among around one and a half hundred countries,” the president stated.

By Tamilla Hasanova