CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -India was one of the first countries to recognize Belarus as independent country in 1991. Formal diplomatic relations were established and the Indian diplomatic mission in Minsk was opened in 1992 and Belarus opened its Mission in New Delhi in 1998. Belarus has an Honorary Consulate in Kolkata and Mumbai.

Detailed explanation-2: -The 7th IGC meeting was held in Minsk in Sept 2015. Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State (I/C) for Commerce and Industry led the Indian delegation to the meeting. The 7th meeting of India‐Belarus Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation in Science and Technology was held in April 2016 in Hyderabad.

Detailed explanation-3: -Belarus would like to find its niche in India’s growing economy, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to the Republic of Belarus Alok Ranjan Jha.

Detailed explanation-4: -Currently, India and the United States enjoy close relations and have often seen eye-to-eye on issues such as counterterrorism (including concern about Pakistan’s involvement), mutual distrust of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program, and Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific. Embassy of India, Washington, D.C.