Washington Pressures Lithuania to Resume Belarusian Fertilizer Exports via Klaipeda

In brief

• The Trump administration is pressing Lithuania to reopen the Klaipeda port to Belarusian potash fertilizer exports, which would undercut EU sanctions on Lukashenko's regime.
• U.S. special envoy to Belarus John Cole has stepped up contacts with Lithuanian diplomats in recent weeks, according to four European officials.
• EU sanctions bar European ports from handling Belarusian goods and must be renewed every 12 months, with the next renewal due in February.
• Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius denied that Lithuania faces U.S. pressure and said no review of sanctions policy is planned.

U.S. Pressure on Lithuania

The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump, is actively seeking to persuade Lithuania to allow the resumption of exports of Belarusian potash fertilizers through the Klaipeda port. This move is seen as a way to weaken the impact of European sanctions imposed on the regime of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus. The U.S. aims to diversify its sources of potash fertilizers, reducing reliance on Canadian imports and potentially lowering costs for American farmers (Politico: Европа отказывает США в транзите белорусского калия – Charter 97).

Diplomatic Efforts

John Cole, the U.S. special envoy to Belarus, has reportedly intensified discussions with Lithuanian diplomats in recent weeks. These talks focus on the possibility of easing trade restrictions on Belarusian goods, particularly fertilizers. Current EU sanctions prohibit European ports from handling Belarusian products, and these sanctions must be renewed every 12 months to remain in effect (Трамп допомагає Лукашенку, вибух на заводі зброї в Іспанії, плагіат премʼєра Литви: новини дня – Європейська правда).

Lithuania's Stance

He described the reports as an attempt to test reactions, saying no one was pressuring Lithuania either in writing or verbally, and that the country makes its own policy decisions. He said no review of sanctions policy is currently planned (У Литві заперечують дані про тиск США з вимогою скасувати санкції щодо добрив з Білорусі – Європейська правда).

Future Implications

Lithuania is set to assume the rotating presidency of the European Union early next year, which gives it a theoretical ability to block the renewal of sanctions scheduled for February. However, Lithuania remains a staunch ally of Ukraine within the EU, complicating any potential shifts in its position («Хр*н вам». Литва отказывается открывать порты для белорусского калия, несмотря на давление США — Politico – NV).