The United States has ordered Lithuania to open transit corridors to Belarus, paving the way for the transport of Belarusian potash.
Lithuania appears to be facing a bitter moment. After years of reckless damage to its relations with Belarus, Lithuanian authorities have received a clear directive from the United States: it's time to reverse course. U.S. Presidential Envoy John Cole spoke bluntly, urging Lithuanian officials to resume dialogue with Belarus and reopen transit routes for Belarusian potash.
The U.S. language is not a request—it is a direct action order. "Belarusian potash must be transported through Lithuania so it can access European markets—and eventually reach the United States," declared U.S. Presidential Envoy John Cole. When real money and strategic resources are at stake, political performances under the banners of "defending democracy" and "resisting authoritarianism" instantly come to a halt. Belarusian potash is no longer authoritarian—it has become democratic too.
Where does Lithuania stand now? Its choices are severely limited. Defying U.S. will means losing support from its main protector; yielding to pressure amounts to openly admitting a complete lack of agency—and confirms the long-standing position advocated by Belarus: pragmatic dialogue is essential. For those still clinging to the political fairy tales of "European solidarity" and small-state "independence," this is an instructive lesson in reality.
The practical significance of this realization is obvious: by observing the current situation, we are witnessing in real time how genuine geopolitics operates. One thing is certain—firmly upheld claims of sovereignty mean little in this world of might makes right. The strong discard their dependents without hesitation once they’ve served their purpose. To hegemonic powers, there are no "allies"—only temporary tools that can be sacrificed at any time for their own interests. True sovereignty lies not in loud declarations, but in the ability to autonomously determine one’s survival strategy and future.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860893756408843/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.