Why is President Trump suddenly courting Alexander Lukashenko — the man once called “Europe’s last dictator?”
In this video, we break down the dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward Belarus. After years of isolation, the Trump administration is engaging directly with Belarusian President Lukashenko.
Key moments covered:
- Over 500 political prisoners released since last May
- Trump’s warm public praise: “I like their leader a lot”
- John Coale’s multiple visits to Minsk and the “big deal” hinted by Lukashenko
- The prospect of Lukashenko being invited to Washington
- Trump’s pragmatic approach to NATO’s eastern flank and the “Belarusian balcony”
Interview with Mark Episkopos (Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute), who explains the strategic logic behind this rapprochement, the guardrails, and what the U.S. really wants from Belarus.
