News

On September 21-22 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Linas Linkevičius, visited Washignton, DC. He had meetings with the US Deputy Secretary of State, John J. Sullivan; Deputy National Security Adviser to the US President, Major General Ricky L. Waddell; and Senior Director for NATO/Europe, National Security Council, Richard J. Hooker. The Minister also participated in the annual CEPA Forum, held discussions with the think tank community. ​

"I have been reassured of the continued focus of the US on the security of Lithuania and our region as a whole, and I have heard clear understanding of threats to the Baltic region and the transatlantic community,” Linas Linkevičius said after the meeting.

Mr Minister thanked the US for deploying its military personnel and equipment, as well as additional fighter-jets in Lithuania during the Russia-Belarus military exercises “Zapad“.

“The alleged transparency of the exercises while only selective and limited access was given to a small part of the exercises continues to cause reasonable concern of the international community over an offensive nature of the exercises. Even though an active phase of “Zapad” has already finished, in a broad sense, the exercises have been going on since 2008, which is manifested in both non-transparent and markedly increased military activity and aggressive military actions. We must continue with our resolute and consistent policy of sending a message that any aggression or violation of the sovereignty of neighbouring countries will bear a high price,” the Lithuanian Foreign Minister said.

The US officials thanked Lithuania for its firm and principled position on sanctioning Russia for its aggressive policy and for Lithuania’s consistent support to Ukraine; they also agreed that bilateral and multilateral measures for strengthening Europe’s security and world peace had to stay in place.

During the meeting between Strobe Talbott, President of the Brookings Institution, and the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, global challenges to security and democratic norms and threats to the international order posed by aggressive Russian politics were discussed.

Mr Minister also participated in the annual transatlantic conference held by the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) where he spoke on the future of transatlantic relations and a security situation in the region. He touched upon the impact of US-Russia relations on the security of our region and noted that it was of utmost importance to name Russian actions as keeping silent undermined the unity of democratic states and encouraged aggressors to proceed.

“Trampling upon moral and human rights issues and silence about disregarding them would inevitably result in a real security crisis in our region and huge economic losses of Western countries,” Mr Minister said.

The head of the Lithuania foreign office took part in a debate of US think tanks, the Atlantic Council, the Heritage Foundation, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, represented by Alexander Vershbow, Dan Fried, Magnus Nordenman, Heather Conley, Dakota Woods and met with the former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State, Victoria Nuland.

During the debate, the security experts dwelt on tangible measures that might strengthen the security of the whole region, discussed the NATO adaptation initiative, the significance of strengthening transatlantic ties, and support to Ukraine in its fight against the external aggressor.

“Today as never before, the world needs transatlantic unity and moral leadership,” Mr Minister noted.

Minister Linkevičius also drew attention to the danger imminent in hybrid threats by saying, “Be it information attacks underpinned by lies or the Ostrovets Nuclear Power Plant being built in close vicinity of Lithuania, we must be prepared with an appropriate response to a new type of threats.”

Minister Linkevičius also visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum and lit a candle honouring the memory of Lithuanian Jews, victims of the Holocaust.

While on his visit to the capital of the US, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister gave interviews to The New York Times, Voice of America, and The Daily Signal.