The Belt and Road Initiative and the Uneven Triangle of Latvia, Belarus, and China

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

This chapter assesses how Latvia’s perception of the Belt and Road Initiative has evolved in the context of the Latvian relations with China and Belarus, one of the China’s closest partners in Eastern Europe. The early Latvian economic-centric approach towards China until around 2018–2019 and Belarus until 2020 was cautiously enthusiastic. The engagement with Belarus was seen also as a potential connection to the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. However, the engagement with China gradually transformed in disillusionment and fatigue towards it and its Belt and Road Initiative, better known in Latvia as the New Silk Road. The 2020 Belarusian post-electoral crisis and violence resulted in the deterioration of Latvian–Belarussian relations. It further downgraded prospects of the Belt and Road Initiative leg via Latvia. The chapter concludes that the uneven triangle of Latvia–Belarus–China has proven to be an unstable construct largely because of the overwhelming number of differences between the partners opposed to only one commonality—the interest in economic cooperation.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Palgrave Handbook of Globalization with Chinese Characteristics
EditorsP.A. Duarte, F.J. Leandro, E.M. Galan
Place of PublicationSingapore
PublisherPalgrave Macmillan Ltd.
Pages609-621
ISBN (Electronic)978-981-19-6700-9
ISBN (Print)978-981-19-6699-6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Jan 2023

Field of Science*

  • 5.6 Political science

Publication Type*

  • 3.2. Articles or chapters in other proceedings other than those included in 3.1., with an ISBN or ISSN code

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