The U.S. State Department, in response to a proposal of Belarus to reduce the U.S. embassy staff, accused Minsk of deteriorating bilateral relations, triggered by repression of the Belarusians.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Washington was disappointed by the deterioration of relations with Minsk and promised to support Belarusian allies and partners that have common interests with the United States. The American Ambassador Julie Fisher and her staff will continue to meet with the citizens of Belarus, he specified.
The other day the United States imposed new sanctions against Belarus, which include blocking of assets of Belarusian officials. According to U.S. President Joe Biden, the actions of the Belarusian authorities are an “extreme” threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. He said that Washington’s new sanctions against Belarus will affect the defense, energy, and transport sectors.
After that, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry offered the U.S. to reduce the number of its embassy employees in Minsk by up to five people by September 1st.
