From microelectronics to nuclear arms, Russia-Belarus elevated partnership has it all

Russia and Belarus are in the process of creating united oil and gas industries with an agreement also ready for signing on the formation of a single electric power market besides rapid acceleration in the production of critically important electronic component bases at home.

This follows building a single Russian-Belarusian defence space with extensive cooperation in the military nuclear sphere to tackle the “aggravation of external threats” in the way that best suits their interests.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko have held extensive discussions at the Kremlin over the past two days asserting that both countries have “adequately withstood” the first massive foreign economic blows following the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The two leaders spotlighted that extensive mutually beneficial trade and economic ties have been established between Moscow and Minsk with cooperation in the defence, scientific and technical, educational, cultural and other fields having significantly strengthened.

They insisted that both governments are currently engaged in issues of ensuring macroeconomic stability, and increasing interaction in the monetary and financial spheres to counter the political and economic war unleashed against Belarus and Russia.

Russia continues to be the largest economic partner of Belarus with trade increasing by 35 percent to $40 billion in 2021 and growing by another 12 percent to a record $45 billion in 2022. There are more than 60 joint scientific and technical programmes that have been implemented between the two neighbouring countries.

Interestingly, before Thursday’s meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, Putin and Lukashenko held a “meaningful and constructive meeting in a tete-a-tete format” where the two leaders discussed mutual cooperation in the field of microelectronics for a long time.

They agreed that, against the backdrop of a hybrid confrontation, giving a new impetus to the development of the microelectronic industry is more relevant than ever.

“We will overcome everything. To those, who hope or predicted that we would fall, I can say: we haven’t fallen. No, things will not be easy. But when were they ever easy? We will endure and will accomplish everything even in microelectronics, which we discussed a year ago when we met in your office to discuss what we should do. It turns out we’ve found opportunities to keep working,” said the President of Belarus on Friday.

Lukashenko, who has been working extensively on establishing an indigenous microelectronic industry, updated Putin about his last month’s visit to Minsk-based Planar Corporation which develops and supplies special systems for realisation of critical technologies in microelectronics.

After the visit to the production facility, Lukashenko revealed that Belarus and Russia have formed a list of the critically important electronic component base which will be produced at Belarusian enterprises.

“We have already begun to supply a number of elements for Russian enterprises. An agreement has been signed on the establishment of a joint Belarusian-Russian center for the development and production of photomasks. It will allow us to carry out joint development work and reduce the dependence of Belarusian and Russian consumers on imported supplies,” he said.

He recalled that before the collapse of the USSR, microelectronics made in Belarus were comparable in functionality and reliability to the products of companies that now dominate the world market.

From space exploration to information technology, agriculture and the production of materials and devices, Putin and Lukashenko have prepared a joint roadmap for import substitution and reduction of dependence on Western technologies. A Russian-Belarusian Center for Photomasks has also been established.

“We are jointly implementing comprehensive measures to minimise the damage from illegal sanctions. We are strengthening cooperation with foreign countries that want to work with us and want to continue this cooperation in the future,” said Putin.

Also Read: Russian and Indian Railways set to manufacture Vande Bharat trains in boost to Make in India campaign