Lithuania’s Stance on Belarus Fertilizer Transit Unchanged

Lithuania Holds Firm on Belarus Fertilizer Transit Ban After U.S. Talks

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis recently visited the United States, where discussions on Belarusian fertilizer transit and related matters took place. The visit, however, did not yield specific results regarding the easing of restrictions on Belarusian fertilizer exports.

During his meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Special Envoy for Belarus Julie Fisher, Landsbergis did not engage in talks about lifting the ban on Belarusian potash fertilizers' transit through Lithuania to the port of Klaipėda. This decision, made on February 1, 2022, was based on Lithuania's security interests.

The U.S., while coordinating and informing on sanctions, has not set conditions for easing these restrictions. Instead, the softer tone from the U.S. towards Belarus is part of a broader global effort to secure the release of political prisoners, including those in Belarus. However, the search results did not reveal any information about Belarusian fertilizer supplies or related organizations that the USA failed to mention during the visits.

The issue of Belarusian fertilizer transit remains an internal matter for the European Union and Lithuania. Despite the high-level meetings, no progress was made on easing the restrictions. The U.S. continues to support the release of political prisoners worldwide, but the situation regarding Belarusian fertilizer exports remains unchanged.