Lukashenko Eyes Chinese Model as EU Fortifies Belarus Border

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko expressed profound admiration for China’s political system during a visit for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, suggesting Belarus should adopt certain elements from its eastern ally. He praised the discipline and order he witnessed, noting with approval that in China, “no one wanders around aimlessly.” This visit, which also included an appearance at a parade commemorating the end of World War II, highlighted Minsk’s deepening ties with Beijing.

In talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Lukashenko lamented the loss of the Soviet-era model, which he said China has successfully preserved and built upon. “I have personally come to the conclusion that we should borrow something from you in the political structure of the state,” he stated, reflecting on his first visit to the country over 30 years ago. He confessed to being so impressed by China’s “gigantic development” that other issues paled in comparison.

Beyond his praise, Lukashenko presented his own vision for the SCO, outlining five key priorities: multilateralism, security, sustainable development, food security, and industrial and scientific advancement. Quoting Confucius—“If you want to change the world, start with yourself”—he positioned the SCO as a model for global order. He asserted that the era of multipolarity has already arrived, with organizations like the SCO and BRICS serving as a significant counterweight to Western-led groups such as the G7 and G20.

“We are by no means going to compete with them. Although life will force it. We are working for the good of our peoples,” Lukashenko declared, framing the rise of these blocs as an inevitable shift in the global balance of power. He stressed that the SCO meeting itself was evidence that a multipolar world is no longer a future prospect but a current reality.

In stark contrast to Belarus’s eastward-looking diplomacy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was simultaneously touring the EU’s eastern frontier. Accompanied by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on separate flights, she surveyed the border with Belarus, vowing to uphold European solidarity. “Europe needs a strong Lithuania to protect our borders and our people,” von der Leyen stated, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to border security and regional stability.

The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted sharply to the European leaders’ tour. In a statement, the ministry drew attention to long queues at border crossings, the tragic fate of migrants in the border forests, and the security implications of Poland and Lithuania’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention on landmines. It also raised questions about the transparency of EU spending on border fences and what it called the “push-backs” of migrants, adding to the list of grievances between Minsk and Brussels.