When will Russia annex Belarus?

[brucejoel99]

Russia won't invade Belarus because it's unnecessary; they have nothing Russia wants, so Russia has nothing to gain from annexing a state that's already basically an independent province of Russia anyway.

And regardless, it's definitely not happening so long as Lukashenko is alive.

[brucejoel99]

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/12/24/world/europe/ap-eu-belarus-russia.html

"Forceful merger" sends me, idk why.

Belarus & Russia signed the agreement creating the Union State nearly 25 years ago now, & nothing much has ever come of it. Lukashenko is never gonna relinquish power in Belarus so long as he's alive & everybody knows that. The current quibbling is about oil rates & niggling trade disputes that have always cropped up from time to time.

And Russia is not gonna invade Belarus. Belarus is one of their closest allies, & Belarusians appreciate Russia for allowing them visa-free travel & work inside Russia (Belarus doesn't have a market economy so this is a critical economic lifeline) & the free educations that Belarusians are granted at Russian universities.