Lithuania has agreed to allow China to open a chargé d’affaires office in the country, Remigijus Motuzas, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, revealed, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Motuzas said that the move was a “slight bow” to China and that business was “very…
Three parties in Lithuania have agreed on a coalition programme and the number of ministerial posts in a new incoming government, LRT and ELTA reported. The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) will have nine ministers, while the Union of Democrats for Lithuania (DSVL) will have three and the Lithuanian Union of Farmers and Greens…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has signed into law amendments to legislation governing the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reports. The changes will create a new board of directors for LRT, expand the company’s governing council, and establish fixed terms for council members and increase their powers. Also, the amendments will…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene expressed support for Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys amid speculation about his future in government, LRT reported. Nauseda insisted that discussions about replacing Budrys were “not very responsible and not very serious”, pointing out that no concrete allegations had been made against him. Moreover, the President noted…
The council of the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) has decided to end its coalition agreement with the far-right populist party, Dawn of Nemunas (PPNA), LRT reports. LSDP will instead begin negotiations with the opposition Union of Democrats for Lithuania (DSVL) on forming a new ruling coalition. LSDP chairman Mindaugas Sinkevicius stated that Lithuanian…
The Baltic States are interested in hosting US military aircraft capable of carrying out nuclear strikes, LETA reports. Sources told the Financial Times that the US was considering the possibility of stationing nuclear-capable bombers in more NATO countries in Europe. According to the sources, countries on NATO’s eastern flank, including Poland and some Baltic States,…
Renewed calls for engagement with Russia do not reflect Europe’s security needs, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda stated, BNS reports. Speaking at the opening of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s spring session in the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, Nauseda insisted that Russia has to be “contained, not courted.” He reminded that the future of European security was…
Hostile states were probably responsible for a massive data leak at Lithuania’s Centre of Registers (VIRC), President Gitanas Nauseda announced, BNS reported. He said that the theft of over 600,000 records from VIRC’s real estate register was a matter of national security. Nauseda slammed the government for not disclosing the data breach until one or…
Recent drone incidents in the Baltic States are part of Russia’s strategy to destabilise democratic societies in the region, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, BNS reports. Speaking after a meeting with Baltic presidents in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, von der Leyen stressed the need for EU unity in support of the three…