The Instrumentalization of Migration as a Challenge to European Union Border Security: The Case of Lithuania

Abstract

In 2021, the instrumentalization of migration became a significant security challenge for three European Union (EU) member states, namely Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia. This phenomenon gained particular importance when it was recognized as a hybrid threat aimed at destabilizing the eastern border of NATO and the EU. Instrumentalization of population movements, understood as the de facto direction of migrants toward the territories of selected states, became a form of political pressure. It com-pels member states to take urgent measures to protect their borders and coordinate their humanitarian and security responses. The aim of this article is to present the issue of migration instrumentalization as a tool of political pressure and to examine its impact on the security of the EU’s external borders, with particular emphasis on the case of Lithuania. This analysis highlights the use of migration in an interna-tional context and its consequences for EU member states. The paper examines the Lithuanian-Belarus-ian border and analyses the measures implemented by Lithuania to safeguard the border and ensure the security of its citizens. It also assesses the effectiveness of Lithuania’s actions in the context of compli-ance with international law and humanitarian standards. The research process employed a descriptive-explanatory approach, allowing for both the description and explanation of the phenomenon. To enhance the credibility and reliability of the study’s results, the research employed methodological triangulation, combining the dogmatic-legal method, the comparative method, and desk research. The data used in the analysis came from numerous analytical canters specializing in Central and Eastern Europe, including the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW), the Institute of Central Europe (IEŚW), and the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM). The analysis resulted in a current diagnosis of the situation related to the actions of EU member states, using the example of Lithuania, in combating the instrumentalization of migration, as well as supplementing existing research findings.