Most analysts link these extraordinary diplomatic actions to America's OFAC sanctions against Belneftekhim, [World-Check UID 432643] the country's state-owned oil and chemical company. The broader Belarus issues are more complex than that:

• Poland's former Ambassador to Belarus, Mariusz Maszkiewicz, has accused the government of Belarus of using Belneftekhim, listed by OFAC as an Specially Designated National, to commit money laundering for Petroleos of Venezuela (PdVSA). Where did the PdVSA funds come from? Rumours continue to emanate from Venezuela regarding the reported deposit of the proceeds crime from Colombian narcotics traffickers into PdVSA accounts.
  

• Belarus has been shipping large quantities (costing US$1bn) of arms, ammunition and military equipment to Venezuela. American currently has prohibited its citizens and companies from the sale or delivery of any military supplies to Venezuela, under regulations imposed last year. Venezuela's military buildup has disturbed the US, since it presently has no disputes with the nationas on its borders, but has sent arms and military supplies to the FARC and ELN, both designated as global terrorist organisations by the US, EU, and  United Nations.
  

• A Belarusian-Venezuelan joint venture, Petrolera BeloVenesolana, plans to extract oil from Venezuelan oil fields in 2008.  Could this also be used a screen for money laundering operations involving the sanctioned Belneftekhim?

• Venezuela has engaged Belarus to build an air defence system in Venezuela, and the missiles contemplated, which have a maximum range of 200 km., could be used for offensive purposes. The Venezuelan designation of the FARC as a recognised beligerant entity has raised the risk that Venezuela will commence a military action against Colonmbia, in concert with the FARC. Special Forces of Belarus have been training inside Venezuela, with its armed forces.
  

• Belarus is still illegally holding American anti-money laundering expert Emanuel Zeltser, who has reportedly been beaten and denied critical medical care. US diplomats no longer have access to Zeltser, who could die in custody.
  

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All of these are serious problems of concern to the United States. Is Venezuela acting as a third-party on behalf of other sanctioned Belarus individuals and companies? How much does the US know that it is not choosing to go public with? We cannot say, but doing business with Belarus or any of its companies or financial institutions is fast approaching the level of unacceptable high-risk, and some of this risk has been transferred to Venezuela, due to its close relationship with the Republic of Belarus.