We'll discuss ways to reduce business dependence on blackmailers - Lithuanian FM

VILNIUS - Once more than one thousand trucks stuck in Belarus return, Lithuania will need to discuss ways to reduce businesses' dependence on countries that could blackmail Lithuania or exert political pressure on it, Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says.

"When assessing the economic security of Lithuania and Europe - and we are particularly in favor of European economic security - this means minimizing violations so that there are as few as possible. This means that our opponents should have as few ways as possible to influence us economically, especially to blackmail us," Budrys told the public radio LRT on Wednesday.

"Lithuania will do everything it can for its businesses and their assets, especially when we are talking about such a gross seizure," he added.

Once the vehicles stuck in Belarus return, a decision will be made on what Lithuania's dependence is and how much it will allow itself to be blackmailed, Lithuania's top diplomat said.

"Today (Minsk - BNS) wants political negotiations. February is approaching, when sanctions against Belarus will have to be extended - perhaps they will seize some more assets and say 'maybe you should veto the extension of sanctions' and so on," Budrys explained.

The existing US sanctions against Belaruskali, Belarus' largest potash fertilizer producer, came into effect on December 8, 2021, but its fertilizers continued to be transported through Lithuania until February 1, 2022, when Lithuania suspended their transit through the country's territory after the government confirmed that the agreement between Lithuanian Railways and Belaruskali, which was to remain in force until the end of 2023, was not in line with the country's security interests.

Having recently visited the US, Budrys says there was no discussion with American officials about easing this ban.

According to Budrys, Lithuania refused to be dependent on Russia and Belarus for energy, even though Minsk "also blackmailed us with prices and conditions," so the country cannot allow itself to be vulnerable in the transport sector as well.

Due to the threat of balloons used by cigarette smugglers, Lithuania closed its border with Belarus for about three weeks, but reopened it earlier than planned last Thursday, arguing that the situation had improved.

Despite the reopening of two border crossings, the Minsk regime is not allowing trucks to return to Lithuania.