News Excerpt:

Belarusian Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik, currently visiting India, voiced support for India's push for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), adding to the growing voices advocating reforms within the global body.

More about the news:

• Both countries also agreed to start a dialogue on simplification of the visa regime for tourist flow.
• Foreign ministers of both countries also discussed Belarus's membership of the BRICS.
• Belarus has applied for full-fledged membership of the BRICS.
• Notably, India was the first country to ratify the memorandum on Belarus' accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• The two leaders also discussed regional and global issues, affirming to work towards further enhancing bilateral cooperation between India and Belarus to a 'strategic partnership' level.

Belarus:

• Belarus is a landlocked country of Eastern Europe. 
• It is bordered by Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest, Russia to the north and east, Ukraine to the south, and Poland to the west. 
• Until it became independent in 1991, Belarus, formerly known as Belorussia or White Russia, was the smallest of the three Slavic republics included in the Soviet Union (the larger two being Russia and Ukraine).

India-Belarus Bilateral Relations:

• India’s relations with Belarus have been traditionally warm and cordial. 
• India was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus as an independent country in 1991.
• A broad understanding of issues of mutual interest marks bilateral relations between India and Belarus. 
  • The two countries enjoy a comprehensive partnership and have established mechanisms for exchanging views on bilateral, regional, and multilateral issues through Foreign Office Consultations, the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC), and the Joint Commission on Military Technical Cooperation.
• Belarus has supported India’s candidature for a permanent seat at the UNSC and for the non-permanent seat for the years 2021-22.
• Belarus also supported India at Nuclear Suppliers Group meetings. 
• Similarly, India supported Belarus for its membership in the SCO and  Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and other international and multilateral forums like IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union). 
• Belarus recognizes India as an emerging global power and seeks to develop a “strategic relationship” with India.

Conclusion:

The diplomatic relations between India and Belarus serve as evidence of the shared commitment of both nations to promote cooperation and collaboration across various sectors. They align their efforts in international, multilateral, and regional affairs, sharing common perspectives on numerous global and regional challenges.