Today, the discussion on “Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland’s Policy towards Belarus and what we can do about the independence of Belarus” took place at the EESC, where political scientist and VU TSPMI lecturer, Dr. Mariusz Antonowicz, shared his insights on the topic. Adam Roževič, Policy Analyst at the EESC, moderated the event. During the conversation, we discussed the development of the policies of these three states in relation to Belarus and efforts to strengthen Belarus’ sovereignty.
The main focus of the discussion was on assessing the differences between the policies of Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland towards Belarus and attempts to coordinate these positions over time in order to become “gatekeepers” to Europe. Practical actions, for example in the energy sector, and bilateral efforts undertaken by the states to strengthen Belarus’ sovereignty were also discussed.
Regarding the future and what can still be done to achieve the independence of Belarus, the need to set clear conditions for what Belarus must do (for example, to distance itself from Russia, not to support the war against Ukraine) was emphasized. It was also suggested that greater attention should be paid to maintaining the borders with Belarus. Belarusians who are already in Lithuania or other European countries should also play an important role in relations with this country, emphasizing their pro-Western, pro-European positions.