US President Donald Trump has stated that Washington is working on a major deal to purchase potash from Belarus, despite the country’s crackdown on dissidents and Minsk’s support for Russia‘s war against Ukraine.
In a social media post, Donald Trump noted that the price of Belarusian potash would be “substantially lower than what we are currently paying Canada.” Canada is the primary supplier of potash for American farmers, while Washington has recently been escalating trade tensions with Ottawa.
Potash is a potassium salt primarily used to produce fertilizer. It helps plants grow and increases crop yields. Belarus is one of the world’s largest producers of potash.
Sanctions and US negotiations with Belarus
The European Union prohibits the import of Belarusian potash and has frozen the assets of the state-owned producer Belaruskali.
Donald Trump‘s statement is the latest step in the rapprochement between Washington and Minsk. Negotiations involving US envoy John Coale were accompanied by the release of hundreds of political prisoners by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko and the easing of American sanctions against Belarusian companies, including those involved in potash production.
At the same time, Belarus remains a close ally of Russia. Minsk allowed Russian troops to use its territory as a staging ground for the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has recently permitted joint nuclear exercises.
Source: Euronews
