Report

Could Russia’s reliance on Belarus be its soft underbelly?

Think tank: RUSI

Author(s): Emily Ferris

January 12, 2023

This report from UK think tank RUSI looks at the political and defence ties between Belarus and Russia.

Alongside Ukraine, Belarus has for centuries been a significant part of Russia’s own history, both as part of an ancestral empire and – in Russia’s perception – as an extension of Russia’s own security space. The political and defence ties between Belarus and Russia have gained new prominence as a result of the war in Ukraine. But a nuanced understanding of this relationship suggests that Russia’s dependence on Belarus for logistical support and training could become a weakness.