The European Union’s sanctions mechanism against Belarus as an instrument of small EU member state political influence: a case study of Latvia

This article discusses how Latvia, as a small European Union (EU) member state, has sought to leverage the sanctions regime imposed on Belarus to increase its political influence within the EU, focusing on the period from 2012 to 2018. The research findings indicate that, first, Latvia’s increased interest in either lifting or, conversely, strengthening the sanctions mechanism largely stems from the intensity of economic relations between the two countries. Second, Latvia, through its position on the application of the sanctions mechanism, has managed in several instances to influence the overall policy of the EU, receiving validation for its actions not only from the EU but also from Belarus. These results, in turn, allow for the assumption that Latvia, by using the EU’s sanctions mechanism against Belarus as a tool to enhance its political influence, has strengthened its leadership position as a member state whose opinion on Belarusian policy carries significant weight and importance among EU member states. In order to achieve the lifting of the sanctions regime, Latvia has actively advocated for the need to review the EU sanctions imposed on Belarus.