Russia and Belarus plan to jointly develop the field of artificial intelligence. During a joint foresight session held in August, four main areas of cooperation were identified. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko also invited Belarusian representatives to visit Russian research centers in AI and learn from their experience. Additionally, the joint effort aims to address the issue of access to computational resources for Belarusian specialists. Analyst Anatoly Boyashov from the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Research explores why Belarus and Russia are intensifying collaboration in high technologies and AI, and what opportunities this partnership could offer.
The Race for Leadership in High Technologies
The current competition in high-tech sectors, particularly in AI, is expected to intensify, as it will ultimately determine the global leaders in the next wave of technological development. According to prominent political scientist Ian Bremmer, the U.S. and China, both vying for global leadership, may return to a bipolar struggle for dominance specifically in high-tech AI.
Of course, the ability to develop cutting-edge technologies depends on factors such as the training of IT engineers, electricity production speed, energy costs, and reliable supply of raw materials. In other words, the AI race will also intensify competition in “traditional” areas of international relations. Yet, it is difficult to deny that, given the intensity of global rivalries, AI has become an effective tool for competition, sovereignty protection, and interference in domestic affairs.
The U.S. presidential administration’s policies demonstrate that trust has become a critical factor in international AI cooperation. A well-known example is the blocking of American microchip exports to third countries on security grounds.
In 2024, Washington imposed export control sanctions on the UAE-based company G42 and 13 other firms, fearing that microchips and technologies could be supplied to China. Although Donald Trump lifted these sanctions in May 2025, the Wall Street Journal reports that the administration apparatus, particularly the AI development overseer D. Sax, has slowed progress toward a U.S.–UAE chip agreement. This underscores the logic for other countries to develop their own AI capabilities.
Priorities of the Union State
Belarus, lacking geopolitical ambitions but possessing high levels of trust and human capital, is well-positioned to fully leverage high-tech sectors. The country’s strategic course focuses on developing AI and other advanced technologies, as outlined in its 2026–2030 priorities for scientific, technological, and innovative activities. Notably, oversight of this sector has been elevated from the First Deputy Prime Minister to the Prime Minister, who now heads the supervisory board of the Belarus High-Tech Park.
According to Sergey Kruglikov, director of the Institute of Informatics at the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, while AI was previously “added” to other priority areas, from 2025 onwards it has become the top standalone priority in high-tech development.
The high level of trust between Belarus and Russia naturally creates conditions for joint work. As stated by Sergey Glazyev, State Secretary of the Union State, the goal is to develop a domestic AI system grounded in traditional values—one that can be trusted, relied upon, and provides objective information. An effective tool for achieving this common approach has been harmonizing Belarusian legislation with Russian technical and regulatory frameworks.
Driven by their alliance, the two countries’ approach to AI may differ significantly from Western models, which often involve transferring proprietary software without open-source code, effectively consolidating Western corporate monopolies in technology development.
Prospects for Domestic AI Projects Development
Currently, legislation and standards in high-tech fields in Belarus and Russia are being refined. In August 2025, the governments of both countries approved an agreement on cooperation in intellectual property. This opens opportunities for information exchange on legislation and law enforcement practices in AI, collaboration between law enforcement and customs agencies, implementation of modern IT solutions for protecting intellectual property in digital environments, as well as professional training, upskilling, and joint scientific events.
Belarus and Russia are jointly implementing many high-tech projects. The intensification of collaboration is highlighted by the readiness to provide Belarusian research centers with computational resources, as stated by Kirill Zemlyanukhin, head of the Strategic Agency for AI Development Support.
At the same time, experts believe that the only way to challenge the dominance of Western corporations is to revive a domestic system of engineering education in high-tech fields. According to Professor A.N. Kurbatsky of Belarusian State University, limitations stem from a focus on producing IT specialists who adapt Western solutions for outsourcing rather than developing an IT elite capable of creating open-source systems at every stage of design and operation of complex automated systems.
In conclusion, in the context of growing global rivalry, Belarus holds a competitive advantage for a technological leap in AI based on existing human capital. Strengthening collaboration within the framework of the Union State could not only enhance the competitive advantages of Belarus and Russia but also present the world with a tangible model of peaceful AI, serving human well-being and genuine technological progress.