3rd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko took part in the 3rd Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security in Minsk on 28 October.

"We, the participants were not the only ones looking forward to the conference. Our opponents, who keep an eye on Minsk today, were, too. Not everyone was supposed to get to Minsk today. It is the goal some of our neighbors intended to accomplish by launching this crazy gamble of closing the border. And they have come up with an absurd reason: air balloons. Even for a small country Lithuania is it is petty," the head of state said.

"I declare responsibly that we are not talking about any extraordinary smuggling. But it speaks volumes about the political potential of our conference," the head of state added.

The President went on saying that "the greatest ones" already demand apologies from Belarus. In response he noted: "If you are guilty, then you should always apologize. If we are convinced that we are guilty (they are trying to convince us of that right now), we are ready to discuss it in public, we will apologize. Definitely. But if some air balloons carrying cigarettes or something else fly over there, I believe that this issue should be resolved over there. After all, they are flying I don't know where for a reason. Someone over there receives them. Someone is interested in it. It is necessary to find and nip these things in the bud."

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that the Minsk conference becomes increasingly popular every year and has already earned a place on the calendar of international events. For instance, as many as 48 countries are taking part in it this year, up from 38 in 2024.

"Why? Where else can one openly and honestly discuss fundamental matters of security on our common continent? In Munich? Maybe. But people over there want to see and hear only those, who have passed an 'ideological sieve'. If they had their way, they would not let even Americans participate. Unless those once again speak the truth about the 'European orchard': about lost values, parasitism, hypocrisy, censorship, and double standards," the head of state said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that neighboring countries and a number of Western countries are terribly afraid of having an alternative point of view expressed at the Minsk platform. "They are afraid of all of us. Of you. Of your analysis, your knowledge of the situation, the ability to get your point across to people. Of your voice. And despite everything you have come to Minsk. I am grateful to you for that. We are always glad to see you in Minsk," he said.

"In recent times, we have managed to reach settlements, hopefully long-term ones, on several protracted conflicts: Azerbaijan and Armenia have signed a peace agreement, and the two-year war in Gaza has come to a halt. This is only the beginning, but we hope it is a good beginning," the President noted. "But there are no glimmers of hope in other hotspots."

Aleksandr Lukashenko recalled an example he cited at the previous conference that there are currently around 50 armed conflicts of varying intensity worldwide, which is the highest number since the end of World War II. Therefore, the head of state stressed, it should come as no surprise that U.S. President Donald Trump, as he himself says, has stopped six or seven conflicts and wars.

"Hostilities are intensifying, the number of casualties and refugees is growing, and economic losses are mounting. There is a separate challenge posed by the so-called spontaneous revolutions of Generation Z (Bangladesh, Nepal, Madagascar)," the Belarusian leader stated.

"The main reason for the lack of progress in global de-escalation is the consistent disregard for the principle of the indivisibility of security. As a result, international relations today are described not in terms of trust and cooperation, but by citing data on kilometers of new barriers and megatons of lethal weapons. Behind this dangerous arithmetic lies the fate of not just individuals, but of all humanity!" the head of state said.

"Ignoring the simple truth that the security of one state cannot be built at the expense of another is a tragic, if not fatal, mistake. The dramatic events in Ukraine and the Middle East are direct confirmation of this," the Belarusian leader added.

"Western politicians remain convinced they can force the world to serve their interests, isolating those who refuse to cave in," he asserted. "Yet they fail to grasp today's reality. Their policy of illegal sanctions and new dividing lines, be it ideological barriers, closed borders, or closed skies, is a direct path to global self-isolation, not the world we aspire to live in."

He added that the world has moved forward, prioritizing conflict-free coexistence, tolerance, and respect for differences. "In this new world, the Global Majority has emerged as a full and equal participant. I am confident this process will continue," the President stated.

Aleksandr Lukashenko emphasized that Eurasian countries have everything in place to help each other prosper: "We have a huge market, abundant resources, advanced technology, and invaluable human potential. We must seek solutions to our problems openly and with a focus on results, while always safeguarding our interests."

He noted that the nations of Eurasia and the Global Majority have immense potential. "But the biggest problem is our lack of progress in this direction," he emphasized. "We all understand we cannot spend our lives on our knees, bowing to one country or one person."

"Everyone understands that these sanctions could target any of us tomorrow. If India, a nation of over one and a half billion, buys oil from the 'wrong' places, it could be sanctioned. Everyone sees that military action - look at Venezuela - could be next. Everyone understands that this is absolutely possible. So let's unite. Let's create an alternative, starting with financial systems and culminating in a demonstration of our collective capabilities. And such capabilities exist," Aleksandr Lukashenko asserted.

"Yet we are not doing this. We are all waiting to be dealt with individually. Therefore, while we rightly criticize the West, we must also admit that we ourselves are not always doing what is necessary. And if we fail to act today, tomorrow may be too late," he said.