December 16, Pozirk. Lithuania may resume transit of Belarusian potash fertilizers after deployment of additional US military forces in the country, LRT reports, citing Deividas Matulionis, the Lithuanian president’s chief national security advisor.
Washington is not pressuring Vilnius to take any additional steps. However, if it decides to purchase potash fertilizers from Belarus, the question of how to transport them will arise, he noted.
“If we were to take any action in this direction, it would likely have to be linked to an increased US military presence,” Matulionis said. “If these fertilizers are essentially American and destined for the US market, then we should be aligned with US interests, not at odds with Washington.”
Vilnius should focus on pursuing pragmatic interests rather than politicizing Belarusian fertilizer transit, the official added.
Lithuania banned the transit of Belarusian fertilizers in early 2022 in line with US sanctions, while the European Union adopted similar restrictions later.
Washington announced that it will be lifting sanctions on Belarusian potash fertilizers following the meeting between Aleksandar Łukašenka and John Coale, US special envoy to Belarus. Negotiations in Minsk on December 12 and 13 also resulted in the release of 123 designated political prisoners, including prominent opposition figures and politicians.
Yesterday, the US Treasury published the general license authorizing transactions involving the Belarusian Potash Company, potash giant Biełaruskalij and its subsidiary Agrorozkvit LLC.
