On March 13, Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey had a telephone conversation with the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“The Minister and the Secretary discussed the results of the visit of the U.S. Secretary of State to Belarus on February 1, 2020. The parties also discussed issues of bilateral cooperation, regional and international agenda, including energy security,” the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.
In turn, Mike Pompeo stressed he had affirmed the U.S. Belarus’s sovereignty when talkinh to Mr. Makey.
“Our bilateral business relationship shows great potential, with plans to increase our commercial and diplomatic ties,” he said on Twitter.
On 1 January 2020, Russia stopped supplying oil to the refineries of Belarus due to the fact that Moscow and Minsk had not signed new contracts. Minsk is now looking for alternative oil suppliers.
In early March, Alyaksandr Lukashenka said that Belarus should fully diversify its oil import. According to him, the country may count on a U.S. loan for the construction of a new oil pipeline.
On February 1, after a meeting with the Belarusian leader in Minsk, Mike Pompeo said that American producers were ready to cover 100% of Belarus’ oil needs ‘at competitive prices’.
“The U.S. wants to help Belarus create its sovereign state and our energy producers are ready to provide you with the necessary oil to cover 100% of your needs at competitive prices. We are the largest energy producer in the world, and all you need to do is tell us and contact us,” the top U.S. diplomat told reporters after bilateral talks with Lukashenka behind closed doors.
