The United States has lifted sanctions on Belarus’s state-owned airline Belavia, according to Belarusian state media. The announcement came on September 11 during a meeting between US presidential envoy John Cole and Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk. Cole stated that the decision was made directly by President Donald Trump, who ordered the move to be implemented immediately.
Release of political prisoners in Minsk
Coinciding with the US decision, Minsk freed 52 political prisoners, including opposition leader Mikola Statkevich. The release was presented as a goodwill gesture aimed at improving relations with Washington. Cole emphasized that the sanctions removal was “just the beginning,” adding that further progress could be made if discussions on remaining detainees led to additional agreements. He also signaled Washington’s intent to reopen the US embassy in Minsk.
Background of sanctions and EU measures
Belavia had been under US sanctions since August 2023. The airline has also faced European Union restrictions since December 2021, when it was accused of helping orchestrate a migrant crisis on the EU’s eastern border. Following the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in May 2021 and the arrest of opposition activist Raman Pratasevich, EU states barred Belavia aircraft from their airspace. The airline lost most of its profitable European routes and has since struggled to sustain operations.
Lukashenko’s strategy for maneuvering
Observers note that Lukashenko is seeking to expand his room for political maneuvering at a time when Belarus remains heavily dependent on Russia. Engagement with China has not balanced that reliance, prompting Minsk to explore rapprochement with the West. With the Trump administration showing greater openness to transactional diplomacy, Lukashenko has reverted to his longstanding tactic of freeing political prisoners to secure concessions without easing repression more broadly. Despite the release of 52 detainees, more than a thousand political prisoners remain in Belarus.
Implications for US–EU relations
Trump’s personal message to Lukashenko, which included birthday wishes and symbolic gifts, underscores the US president’s willingness to engage authoritarian leaders in pursuit of broader foreign policy objectives. Analysts suggest Washington could view Belarus as a potential lever against Russia or as part of a wider strategy to recalibrate global alliances. However, lifting sanctions on Belavia is largely symbolic, as the EU flight ban remains the airline’s most damaging obstacle. The move also places Brussels in a difficult position, forcing the EU to reconsider its stance toward Minsk while highlighting divisions in Western policy.