The United States has lifted sanctions on Belarus’s potash sector, while the European Union has not. Meanwhile, fertiliser shipments are being redirected to Russian ports, allowing the aggressor state to generate substantial windfall profits that are then used to finance the war. Filips Rajevskis, co-owner of Mediju tilts and political scientist, argues that the world would benefit if the transit of these shipments were conducted under strict control — including through Latvian ports — rather than “through back channels” and in Russia’s interests.
“First of all, we need to take into account and understand what our strategic partner is doing. If the US is lifting sanctions on these fertiliser shipments, there are serious reasons for that,” the political scientist says. “To understand the situation in substance, not just at a declarative level, consultations with the Americans on this issue would be useful, including regarding our strategic partner’s interests in this field. By understanding the US intention, we could also find our own place within it. If fertiliser transit were to take place through our ports, it would be far more controlled and better supervised than through Russian ports. That would ensure that all transactions comply with the sanctions regime, rather than taking place somewhere in the shadows in Russia and Belarus,” Rajevskis explains.
He reminds that fertilisers have always been part of food security. “With really hard work, massive financial investment and tremendous diplomatic effort, we secured Latvia’s position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Fertiliser shipments usually go to Africa, where food crises persist, and as a member of the Security Council,
Latvia could make a meaningful contribution instead of merely talking.
This would be Latvia’s opportunity to act as a global player, rather than just a follower or background participant. It would also help further strengthen relations with poorer African countries, with which our foreign minister is actively engaging.”
Asked why, despite the needs of the UN World Food Programme, there are still objections to Belarusian fertiliser exports via the European Union, Rajevskis notes that fertilisers are produced using gas, and Belarus does not produce gas; it comes from Russia.
“However, it must be understood that these fertilisers will find their place on the market regardless. In this case, Russia profits and Russian ports remain active. This should somehow be aligned with the sanctions regime in order to make this chain as difficult as possible,” he concludes.
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