In their New Year’s greetings, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and First Lady Diana Nausediene sought to convey a sense of optimism as they approached the new year, LRT reported. They noted the upcoming 20th anniversary of Lithuania’s NATO and EU membership, thanking everyone for their collective achievements. The presidential couple expressed their belief in the…
Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis condemned the attacks of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas against Israel. Nauseda assured that Lithuania stood “in full solidarity” with Israel and stressed Israel’s right to defend itself. Landsbergis insisted that the use of violence and terrorism must end, while Simonyte vowed that…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda urged the EU to begin membership negotiations with Ukraine in 2023, BNS reports. Speaking after a meeting with European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, Nauseda argued that a clear European perspective would inspire Ukrainians to continue fighting for their country. He said that Lithuania was ready to share its experience and…
If Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda decides to veto the government’s bill on gender-neutral civil unions, it would cause an “international scandal,” Economy Minister Ausrine Armonaite, chairwoman of the liberal Freedom Party, stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview on Ziniu Radijas, Armonaite urged Nauseda to take a stronger position on “defending European values.” Nauseda has not…
The Lithuanian men’s basketball team won against the US on 3 September 2023, advancing to the quarter-finals of the FIBA World Cup played in the Philippines, LRT reports. Following the win, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda tweeted to US President Joe Biden, saying that “it is just basketball; we are still allies.” Meanwhile, the municipality of the…
The Lithuanian government is unlikely to propose amendments to apply the same restrictions on Belarusian citizens as on Russian citizens, Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, announced, BNS reports. Speaking after a meeting of coalition parties, Cmilyte-Nielsen, who chairs the Lithuanian Liberal Movement (LLS), reiterated her position that the restrictions on Belarusians…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda will make efforts to ensure that Germany’s brigade is deployed to Lithuania by 2026, according to his chief foreign policy adviser, Asta Skaisgiryte, BNS reports. Germany’s chief of defence, General Carsten Breuer, said that Germany would begin deploying the brigade in early 2024. Nauseda met with Breuer in Vilnius to discuss…
Lithuanian experts regard Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, President Gitanas Nauseda, and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis as the country’s most influential politicians in 2023, according to Reitingai magazine’s poll for DELFI, BNS reports. Reitingai interviewed 999 public figures in May-June 2023 for the survey. A separate Spinter Tyrimai poll showed that the public regards Nauseda as…
Lithuania’s Prime Minister, Ingrida Simonyte, expressed confidence in Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, BNS reports. Earlier, Anusauskas was criticised by President Gitanas Nauseda and other politicians for allegedly disclosing restricted information about the purchase of tanks for the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Simonyte insisted that Anusauskas had not disclosed classified information but conceded that the minister should…