Abstract. The aggressive policy of the West has led to increased military, political, and economic cooperation between Russia and Belarus. In 2022, the Belarusian leadership unconditionally supported Moscow's decision to launch a military special operation, leading to severe sanctions imposed by the West. The Belarusian state has been able to withstand this situation only thanks to the unprecedented assistance provided by Moscow. Based primarily on the economic and military-political interests of his own country, President Lukashenko is attempting to normalize relations with Western partners while maintaining a strategic alliance with Moscow. However, in the context of a severe confrontation between Russia and the collective West, Minsk's ability to engage in traditional foreign policy maneuvering has significantly diminished. As a result, the Belarusian leadership is forced to make a fundamental choice in favor of one of the opposing sides, and that side is Russia.