Lukashenko Gifts Kim a Rifle, Signs Friendship Treaty
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- Lukashenko gifted Kim Jong Un an automatic rifle during his visit to Pyongyang, joking it was "just in case enemies appear," according to Belarusian state media video
- Kim returned the gesture with a sword and a vase featuring a portrait of the Belarusian leader
- The two leaders signed a friendship treaty described by Lukashenko as "fundamental," pledging to cooperate more closely and resist Western pressure
- Belarus and North Korea agreed to expand cooperation in agriculture, information, and public health, per KCNA
- Both countries are heavily sanctioned by the West for alleged human rights abuses and for supporting Russia's war in Ukraine
- More than 10,000 North Korean soldiers are estimated to have been deployed to fight alongside Russia, and Ukraine has accused Russia of using Belarusian territory as a launchpad for attacks
Why it matters: The treaty formalizes a Belarus-North Korea axis of heavily sanctioned states backing Russia's war, with North Korea already contributing an estimated 10,000+ troops and Ukraine alleging Belarus serves as a Russian launchpad. For both Lukashenko and Kim, the pact delivers diplomatic legitimacy and a shared anti-Western front at a moment when each is increasingly isolated.
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