Lithuania’s State Security Department has warned that proposals to resume the transit of Belarusian fertilisers through the port of Klaipeda would effectively circumvent European Union sanctions without reducing security threats posed by Minsk.
“This would bypass sanctions, but not the threats,” State Security Department director Remigijus Bridikis said on May 26. “The regime is what it was, and it has not changed.”
Bridikis said the Belarusian authorities continued to pursue the same policies, citing repression against citizens, the use of migration pressure against neighbouring states and close military and security cooperation with Russia.
His comments followed remarks by Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys, who confirmed that Lithuania was discussing the issue with the United States.
“I can confirm that we are talking to the US on this topic,” Budrys said on May 25. “However, sanctions on Belarus and potash fertilisers remain in force until the end of February 2027, and there are currently no ways, means or reasons to review anything at EU level.”
He stressed that this was not only Lithuania’s position but also the position of the European Union.
The comments came after Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that US officials had approached Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine about lifting restrictions to allow Belarusian potash transit through their territories.
According to the report, discussions included possible arrangements under which the fertilisers could be treated as “American” goods or transported on humanitarian grounds.
Budrys did not confirm whether Lithuania had received any specific US document cited by RFE/RL, saying only that Vilnius and Washington regularly exchanged information and proposals through various channels.
He also underlined that any change to EU sanctions would require unanimous approval from all 27 member states, making speculation about a review premature without broader political agreement.
Bridikis warned that easing restrictions could weaken the impact of sanctions while doing little to change the behaviour of the Belarusian authorities.
“Belarus wants a more open West, that is a fact,” he said. “But are they ready to change because of it? No, they are not.”
Lithuania halted the transit of Belarusian potash fertilisers through Klaipeda in 2022 after sanctions were imposed by the United States on Belaruskali and later expanded by the European Union.
The United States lifted its sanctions earlier this year. (LRT)