Lithuania Warns Against Easing Belarus Potash Transit Under Possible US Deal

A senior security adviser to Lithuania's president has warned against any move to ease restrictions on the transit of Belarusian potash as part of a potential deal involving the United States, according to Anadolu Agency.

The adviser said that breaching existing European Union sanctions on Belarusian potash exports would amount to a "moral humiliation" for Lithuania and, by extension, the broader European sanctions regime imposed on Belarus in response to its political crackdown and its role in supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Lithuania has historically served as a key transit route for Belarusian potash, a major export commodity for Belarus, before the EU imposed sanctions restricting that trade. Vilnius has positioned itself as one of the more hawkish voices within the EU on sanctions enforcement against both Minsk and Moscow.

The warning comes amid reported discussions involving the United States over potential arrangements that could affect sanctions on Belarus, though the report did not specify the full scope or status of any such deal, or which parties are involved in the negotiations.

Lithuanian officials have previously argued that maintaining a unified and consistent sanctions policy toward Belarus is essential to preserving the credibility of the EU's broader sanctions framework against Russia and its allies.