№ 6 (November - December 2018)
Belarus chose to escalate the negotiation process over the terms of cooperation in the oil and gas sector with Russia. In response, the Kremlin conditioned the resolution of energy pricing issues on the deepening of integration. This caused a new media wave about the possibility of the annexation of Belarus. Anyway, no dramatic drop of the index of the Belarus-Russia relationship is observed.
The volumes and intensity of contacts with the European Union continue to grow; however, negotiations over politically significant topics remain unsuccessful.
The Belarusian army continues to be optimized in line with actual needs and available financial resources. At the same time, the leadership of the Armed Forces pays considerable attention to the character guidance of military personnel, enhancing their motivation, as well as preparedness for new forms of warfare. The situation in the region remains tense, but stable, and returns back to the green sector.
