| Summary/Abstract |
Belarus, arguably Russia’s closest military ally, observably distanced itself from Russia’s actions early on during the Ukraine conflict. It maintained an ambiguous line about the annexation of Crimea, and its rhetoric toward NATO members became less hostile. Belarus’ actions can be explained within the framework of the alliance security dilemma as fears of both military and economic entrapment, but they also indicate how Belarus uses its alliance with Russia to protect its domestic political system. Importantly, an ostensibly neutral position on Ukraine — though in truth always closer to Russia than Ukraine — should not be mistaken for either aspirations of neutrality or perceptions of a threat from Russia.
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