Lithuania: Russia’s “reign of terror” in Crimea must end: President

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is visiting Ukraine to attend the fourth annual summit of the Crimea Platform, BNS reports. Speaking at the event, Nauseda demanded that Russia release all illegally imprisoned Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. He noted that Russia had implemented “brutal colonial policies” in Crimea for the past ten years. Russia’s reign of terror…

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Lithuania: Lithuanian, Polish presidents to deepen defence ties

The presidents of Lithuania and Poland, Gitanas Nauseda and Andrzej Duda, have signed a declaration on deepening bilateral defence and security ties, Baltic News Network reports. The presidents made the declaration during Nauseda’s official visit to Poland. At the same time, Lithuanian and Polish officials signed cooperation agreements on cyber security and defence industry, TVP…

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Lithuania: President urges defence spending of at least 3.5% of GDP

Lithuania should spend at least 3.5% of its GDP on defence each year, President Gitanas Nauseda stated, BNS reports. He said that military spending should be increased “year after year” to implement plans to modernise the Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) and host a full German brigade in the country. Meanwhile, Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the Lithuanian…

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Lithuania: Defence spending to be raised over 3% of GDP: President

Lithuania plans to allocate more than 3% of its GDP to defence, President Gitanas Nauseda announced, BNS reports. Speaking during a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, Nauseda said that Lithuania would follow Poland’s example of raising defence spending. Also, he said that the two countries would soon begin training Ukrainian…

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Lithuania: Homeland Union chair urges to block radicals from power

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, chairman of the ruling Homeland Union (TS-LKD), called on President Gitanas Nauseda to set up a “cordon sanitaire” to prevent radical political forces from coming to power after the parliamentary elections in October 2024, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Landsbergis warned that pandering to radical political…

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Lithuania: Turkish bid to join BRICS “undermines trust”: Foreign Minister

Türkiye’s application to join the BRICS group undermines trust in the country, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis stated, BNS reports. He pointed to questions on how to reconcile positions within NATO between countries that support Ukraine and those that are pro-Russian. “All this undermines trust,” he added. Meanwhile, Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to…

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Lithuania: Israeli president’s visit postponed amid Mideast tensions

Israeli President Isaac Herzog has postponed his planned visit to Lithuania amid further tensions in the Middle East, Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, announced, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Skaisgiryte said that Lithuania wanted the situation in the Middle East to “calm down a bit,”…

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Lithuania: Andrius Kubilius eyes EU defence or enlargement portfolio

Lithuania’s likely EU commissioner nominee, MEP Andrius Kubilius, named security, defence, or EU enlargement as his possible portfolios on the European Commission (EC), BNS reports. Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to President Gitanas Nauseda, also noted that EU enlargement and defence were focus policy areas for Lithuania. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas,…

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Lithuania: President calls for tighter immigration policy

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda called for limiting the number of immigrants entering the country, BNS reports. Speaking on LRT, Nauseda argued that “uncontrolled immigration was, first and foremost, a national security issue.” Given the “demographic hole” that Lithuania faces, failure to control immigration could lead to “outcomes none of us want,” Nauseda stated. He insisted…

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