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War in Ukraine

US Clears Boeing Jet Sales to Belarus as Trump Eases Sanctions on Lukashenko

2 min read
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Photo of Ivan Khomenko
News Writer
A Belarusian Boeing 737-500 at Hanover Airport in Germany on May 31, 2017. (Source: Getty Images)
A Belarusian Boeing 737-500 at Hanover Airport in Germany on May 31, 2017. (Source: Getty Images)

The United States has authorized Boeing to resume cooperation with Belarusian national carrier Belavia, allowing the airline to purchase American-made aircraft components and potentially negotiate the acquisition of new passenger jets.

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According to Belarusian state news agency BelTA on October 31, Belavia CEO Igor Cherginets said the US Department of Commerce had issued Boeing a license permitting direct commercial cooperation with the airline.

The authorization allows Belavia to obtain spare parts, aircraft components, and software needed to maintain its existing fleet. It also creates an opportunity for the Belarusian carrier to begin negotiations with Boeing over purchasing new aircraft, although no agreements have been announced.

Cherginets said the decision followed earlier authorization from the US Department of the Treasury, which established the legal framework for renewed cooperation between the two companies.

Belarusian Ambassador to the United Nations Valentin Rybakov also confirmed the development, describing the license as another step in ongoing negotiations between Washington and Minsk.

According to Rybakov, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko outlined several priorities for further bilateral discussions during a meeting with US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, John Coale.

Belavia had faced US export restrictions since April 2022, following Belarus’s support for Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Washington subsequently tightened those measures, restricting access to American aviation technology, maintenance services, and replacement parts.

The airline currently operates approximately 18 aircraft, including Boeing, Embraer, and Airbus models, according to its published fleet information.

The decision follows a gradual easing of US restrictions on Belarus. In September 2025, Washington lifted sanctions on Belavia after Belarusian authorities released 52 political prisoners as part of negotiations with the Trump administration.

The US Treasury Department subsequently relaxed additional restrictions in November 2025, permitting certain transactions involving Belavia and aircraft associated with Lukashenko.

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