US Special Envoy Coale meets Lithuanian PM over Belarus hybrid attacks

VILNIUS - US Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale met Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene in Lithuania on Wednesday to discuss Minsk’s hybrid attacks.

The meeting was confirmed by the Prime Minister's spokesperson, Ignas Algirdas Dobrovolskas.

According to a Government Chancellery statement, Ruginiene thanked Coale for his active efforts in seeking the release of political prisoners in Belarus.

"The Belarusian regime remains one of the primary threats to regional security, including Lithuania. This is evidenced by Minsk's hostile hybrid actions against neighbouring countries - including smuggling balloons, illegal migration, and the detention of trucks - as well as its support for Russia's military aggression against Ukraine," the Prime Minister said.

Ruginiene emphasised to the US envoy that Lithuania's position remains unequivocal: the Minsk regime must end its repressions and release all political prisoners.

The meeting also covered the regional security situation. Ruginiene stressed that Vilnius highly values the strategic partnership and strong allied relations between Lithuania and the US.

Lithuania has previously requested US assistance in addressing the issues of smuggling balloons launched from Belarus and the detention of Lithuanian-owned trucks by the Minsk regime.

Lithuanian companies fear that Belarus will follow through on threats to confiscate trucks held since October.

Minsk banned Lithuanian trucks from moving within its territory in response to Vilnius's decision last October to close border crossings due to the threat of smuggling balloons. On November 10, Belarus announced a daily fee of 120 euros for every stationary Lithuanian truck, warning that vehicles would be confiscated if the fees were not paid.

According to the National Crisis Management Centre, based on data from the Linava transport association, 550 Lithuanian trucks and trailers remain stranded in Belarus since late October, while 868 have returned. Linava's latest figures suggest the number of stranded vehicles could be as high as 1,472.