Is Belarus Breaking Away From Its Longtime Ally Russia?

Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

SCMP/Bloomberg: Putin faces geopolitical headache as US moves in to snatch ally Belarus from Russia

* The Russian leader’s relationship with Alexander Lukashenko is getting worse as the US tries to drive a wedge between Minsk and Moscow
* The Belarusian president has accused critics in Russia of financing protests against him ahead of the August election

For Vladimir Putin’s closest ally, Alexander Lukashenko has been downright unfriendly toward the Kremlin of late. After decades of dependence on Moscow, the Belarusian leader is buying oil from the US, and cosying up politically to the West, while ordering a raid on a Russian-owned bank whose former head is challenging him in the upcoming election.

It’s all giving Putin a headache in his own backyard with Lukashenko practically certain to secure a sixth term as president in August and threatening to loosen the strategically important nation’s ties with Russia.

“The old relationship is gradually falling apart and the suspicion here is that Lukashenko is being encouraged from outside,” said Gleb Pavlovsky, a former Kremlin adviser. While Lukashenko has become a “constant irritant” for Russia, “Belarus is very important and Moscow just can’t afford to lose it,” he said.

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WNU Editor: My advice to the U.S. is to be very wary when dealing with Belarusian strongman  Alexander Lukashenko.