Russia's Allies Grow Stronger, Kim Jong Un Welcomes Lukashenko

Alexander Lukashenko and Kim Jong Un walked together in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Wednesday (25/3/2026), during the first visit by the Belarusian leader to strengthen relations between the two countries, which are close allies of Russia. This visit takes place amid North Korea’s support for Moscow in the war against Ukraine, including the shipment of millions of rounds of ammunition and troops to help Russia repel Ukrainian attacks in the Kursk region in August 2024. Belarus previously played a key role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 by providing its territory as a launchpad for attacks and agreeing to the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles on the borders of NATO alliance countries. Lukashenko arrived in the capital Pyongyang with a red carpet welcome and was directly greeted by the North Korean foreign minister as well as dozens of children waving the flags of both countries, before meeting Kim Jong Un and embracing in an official meeting. During his visit, Lukashenko also paid respects at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the mausoleum housing the remains of North Korea’s founder Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il, grandfather and father of the current leader. North Korea and Belarus have both been under international sanctions for years, the former for its nuclear programme and the latter for human rights violations, though both had contacts with former US President Donald Trump at different times, including Trump’s meetings with Kim in 2018–2019 that did not yield major agreements. Lukashenko’s visit comes a few days after his meeting with Trump’s envoy, John Coale, and the release of 250 political prisoners, while relations between Belarus and Washington are beginning to thaw after deteriorating during the Joe Biden era, with Lukashenko even reportedly potentially visiting the White House soon.