For Belarus, joining the Board of Peace is a recognition of President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s efforts in building a system of global security
On January 22nd, Belarus marks Diplomatic Worker’s Day, a holiday commemorating 1919 events when the Soviet Socialist Republic of Byelorussia established the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. The first month of 2026 has been particularly diplomatic, providing an opportunity to draw certain parallels and talk about prospects.
“But I'm tempted by the idea that perhaps this Board of Peace, its efforts and capabilities, will spread to other parts of the planet. First of all, perhaps we can help Ukraine in some way, discuss something and promote peace, bring it closer, influence Ukraine’s authorities. That's what appeals to me most,” President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko stated on January 20th, 2026, after signing an agreement to join the Board of Peace on behalf of Belarus.
Relevant experience
While Orthodox Christians were celebrating Epiphany on January 19th, news spread like wildfire about Donald Trump sending a special invitation to the President of Belarus to be a founding member in the Board of Peace. According to its Charter, the emerging international organisation 'seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict'.
Initially, the Trump-led Board of Peace intended to be part of the plan to end the terrible Gaze conflict, which has turned into a devastating humanitarian catastrophe. However, the US President liked the idea so much that he began to use it in attempts to resolve other conflicts, such as in Ukraine.
The fact that Belarus will be among the founding members indicates the international recognition of the President's authority, as well as the country's role in promoting global security. That is why the Belarusian leader signed a copy of the Board of Peace Charter sent to him. Meanwhile, Aleksandr Lukashenko explained, “Nothing is needed at all, but experience, opportunities to work in this Board.”
By the way, certain heads of state have refused to do so, or at least for now. Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are amongst them. Safe to say that such decisions are a mistake. Being guided by short-term political ambitions and calculations, these politicians are depriving themselves of the opportunity to have a real impact on today’s global developments. However, they still can change their minds.
As for the invitation to Belarus to join the Board of Peace, all the more worded in an emphatically polite and respectful tone, it's worth mentioning the country’s, the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic at the time, contribution to establishing the United Nations in 1945. Speaking of which, January 10th marked exactly 80 years since the UN first session, which was held not in New York, but in London. The Belarusian delegation led by Kuzma V. Kiselev, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs, was directly involved in organising this crucial international forum. The number of UN founding members was not that big either: originally, 50 countries.
Constructive dialogue needed
Both then and now, struggle for peace remains the main line of the Belarusian foreign policy. Earlier, the President outlined the main task of domestic diplomacy as the creation of mechanisms for maintaining equal international relations, constructive dialogue based on the principles of security and mutually beneficial trade – and a wide range of the multifaceted functions performed by Belarusian diplomats back this clear definition.
One of the main directions of Belarus’ foreign policy is the promotion of the country's economic interests abroad, so the focus on practical activity, involvement into a major national economic complex and ties with the real sector are among the distinctive features of the domestic international politics.
A Belarusian diplomat is not a refined aristocrat in a uniform with braid, who is sipping cocktails at receptions. The Foreign Ministry’s employees are patriots who work hard to defend the national interests and pave the way for domestic producers to enter world markets – doing this often in extremely unfavourable conditions.
Multipolarity and multi-vector approach
Belarus aims to build a new world order based on mutual respect between states and equal co-operation. Illegal instruments of pressure on undesirables, such as armed blackmail or sanctions, must be eliminated. Ideologized interference in the internal affairs of other countries is an atavism and therefore must remain in the past. Now, by participating in the work of the world’s largest international organisations and associations, such as BRICS, SCO and others, Belarus is contributing to the emerging multipolarity. In this sense, the republic is once again among the founders of a new system of international relations.
The Union State construction has demonstrated to the whole world the unique experience of equal co-operation and integration between a great power and a relatively small country. This experience also contributes to the growth of Belarus' global authority.
It would seem that the achievements are great, and it’s time to stop and gain a foothold in them. However, this is not the path of Belarus, which rather aims to enter new geopolitical spaces. A great breakthrough has been made in Africa and South‑East Asia over the recent years alone, and that what the President is guiding at.
Belarus’ potential is far from being exhausted in other regions as well. For example, a more than twofold increase in the share of tourism in the GDP structure, an ambitious goal outlined in the five‑year socio-economic development programme, envisages an active involvement of Belarus’ Foreign Ministry and embassies abroad. By the way, approximately the same task was performed by the BSSR permanent mission to the United Nations. In this regard, a certain historical continuity is observed here.
The established international authority gives grounds to assert that the tasks set will be completed – much owing to the loyalty of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry to the classical canons of diplomacy. For a while, it seemed that the globalists and neoliberals had literally insulted over the basic diplomatic principles and thrown them out, but diplomacy (in its true original sense) is actually regaining its position – and Belarusians have repeatedly proved that they have achieved a lot in this art.
Starting point
The first public announcement in the Zvezda newspaper dated January 22nd, 1919 about the launch of the People’s Commissariat for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Byelorussia (‘the Commissariat for Foreign Affairs has begun its activity’) in Minsk’s 21 Koidanovskaya Street (now 15 Revolutsionnaya Street) became the starting point of the Foreign Ministry’s modern history. Since 2018, Diplomatic Worker's Day is celebrated on January 22nd, in line with President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s decree.
On August 22nd, 1921, the BSSR Council of People's Commissars approved the regulations on the People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs. Aleksandr Chervyakov, a native of the village of Dukory in the Minsk Region, was appointed to head the former.
By Candidate of Historical Sciences Vadim Gigin, a deputy of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus
