How the United States Can Prevent the Weaponization of Climate Migration in a Warming World: A Humane Approach

The briefing examines the phenomenon of 'weaponized migration,' where states use vulnerable migrants as political pawns, as seen in Belarus's actions toward the EU. It argues that as climate change increases human displacement, this tactic is likely to become more common, necessitating a US policy shift that recognizes climate change as a driver of migration.

• The 2021 humanitarian crisis at the borders of Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland was a calculated act of retaliation by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who used migrants from the Middle East, Africa, and Cuba as political pawns in response to EU sanctions.
• While the weaponization of migrants has been previously employed by countries such as Cuba, Turkey, and Morocco, the practice is expected to increase as intensifying climate change drives further human displacement.

APA

Wright, K. (2023). How the United States Can Prevent the Weaponization of Climate Migration in a Warming World: A Humane Approach. The Council on Strategic Risks. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/03/08/briefer-how-the-united-states-can-prevent-the-weaponization-of-climate-migration-in-a-warming-world-a-humane-approach/

Chicago

Wright, Katelin. How the United States Can Prevent the Weaponization of Climate Migration in a Warming World: A Humane Approach. The Council on Strategic Risks, 2023. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/03/08/briefer-how-the-united-states-can-prevent-the-weaponization-of-climate-migration-in-a-warming-world-a-humane-approach/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Wright |first1=Katelin |title=How the United States Can Prevent the Weaponization of Climate Migration in a Warming World: A Humane Approach |publisher=The Council on Strategic Risks |date=8 March 2023 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/03/08/briefer-how-the-united-states-can-prevent-the-weaponization-of-climate-migration-in-a-warming-world-a-humane-approach/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wright2023how, author = {Wright, Katelin}, title = {{How the United States Can Prevent the Weaponization of Climate Migration in a Warming World: A Humane Approach}}, institution = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2023/03/08/briefer-how-the-united-states-can-prevent-the-weaponization-of-climate-migration-in-a-warming-world-a-humane-approach/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }