Belarus is increasingly becoming a frontline security challenge for Europe as Russian military presence grows.

The 2020 presidential election and Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine have accelerated Belarus’s integration into Moscow’s military strategy, transforming it into a rear-operating base for Russian forces.

To counter this, the EU must shift from sanctions to a pragmatic strategy that enhances Belarus’s autonomy from Russia while supporting Belarusian exiles and strengthening ties with neighboring countries like Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.