Strategic Importance of Belarussian Rivers in the Regional Hydropolitics: From the Dnieper to the Neman

Water is at the center of attention and plays an important role in all three dimensions of sustainability - environmental, economic and socio-political development. The article discusses the strategic importance of the water system of the Republic of Belarus. The geopolitical situation and use of water resources, especially in the context of climate change, increase the importance of sustainable water policies and transboundary cooperation. The COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on human life have shown how closely linked the UN 2030 Water Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). The research methodology is based on the analysis of normative legal acts, international agreements, statistical indicators, as well as methods of induction and deduction. The article deals with topical issues of the hydropolitics of the Republic of Belarus, which regulate cross-border cooperation, the impact of climate change processes, cataclysms and environmental threats, as well as the energy use of water resources. The uneven use of water resources by States bordering Belarus, the discharge of wastewater and chemicals, as well as hydraulic engineering projects can lead to potential transboundary conflicts.