Possibilities of Halting Oil and Gas Transit via Belarus
Possibilities of Halting Oil and Gas Transit via Belarus

Author(s): Maciej Zaniewicz
Subject(s): Politics, Economic policy, Environmental and Energy policy, International relations/trade, Security and defense
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Belarus; oil; gas; transport; economy; halting transit;
Summary/Abstract: On 11 November, Alexander Lukashenka threatened to halt gas transit to the EU, and then on 17 November Belarus restricted oil shipments to Poland due to unplanned maintenance. These actions are intended to discourage the EU from imposing further sanctions on the Belarusian regime over the border crisis it has caused. Concessions by the EU would be seen as weakness and provoke Belarus to escalate the situation on the border. Threats to stop the supply of gas, and possibly oil, by Belarus to the EU are very unlikely to materialise.

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