Status Seeking by Small States: The Case of Lithuania and the EU’s Policy on Belarus

Using the example of the Republic of Lithuania and of its engagement towards Belarus, this paper seeks to explain how small states may elevate their status in the European Union by influencing the common foreign policy. Thus, it addresses Lithuania’s specific interests and the rationale behind its desire to consolidate its status among EU’s partners in the context of the violent post-election crackdowns on the opposition in neighbouring Belarus. Moreover, this paper seeks to examine the theoretical conceptualisations of status seeking and, to this end, it uses empirical evidence from the specific Lithuanian-Belarusian case. The article concludes that by its strong diplomatic and political outcry against Belarus, accompanied by the hosting of the Belarusian opposition’s leadership, Lithuania not only demonstrated that it is a pro-democratic country, but also flexed its foreign policy muscles on the international stage. The motivation behind its foreign policy was a positive change for Lithuania among the EU Member States and a revamp of the country’s image to free it from the post-Soviet “stamp”. The heartening feedback from its partners in the EU and NATO has cemented Lithuania’s resolve to be a trustworthy and capable partner that does not shy away from taking the initiative and from assuming responsibilities in the European Union’s foreign policy.