The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has approved the state budget for 2026 with 80 votes for, 39 against, and 7 abstentions, BNS reports. Under the budget, annual revenues, including EU funds, will amount to EUR 21.07bn and expenditures to EUR 27.51bn. The government’s net borrowing limit has been increased to EUR 7.79bn, ELTA reports. The…
Lithuania will seek support from the European Union and the United States to pressure the Belarusian regime into stopping smuggler balloons from flying into Lithuanian airspace, Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announced, LRT reports. She said that the Lithuanian government was prepared to impose national sanctions or reclose the border with Belarus if diplomatic efforts with…
The United States will not reduce its troops presence in Lithuania, currently numbering over 1,000, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with LRT, Ruginiene assured that there was no risk of the US cutting the number of troops in the country following the government’s decision to raise defence spending…
Lithuania’s ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) plans to draft a new bill to make it easier to dismiss the director general of the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reports. Under the proposed amendments, LRT’s council would be able to dismiss the company’s director with simple majority by secret…
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya plans to relocate from Lithuania to neighbouring Poland, well-informed sources told Radio Free Europe, LRT reports. According to the information, Tsikhanouskaya and at least part of her team will move from Vilnius to Warsaw. Earlier, the Lithuanian government downgraded Tsikhanouskaya’s security detail, citing a reassessment of threats. Dzianis Kuchynski, diplomatic…
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has lodged a formal protest with Belarus over continued “hybrid attacks” and seizure of property of EU citizens and companies, BNS reports. The ministry demanded that Belarus exercise effective control of its airspace and return “unlawfully detained” property, referring to incursions of smuggler balloons into Lithuania and the detention of Lithuanian trucks in…
The job approval of Lithuania’s current coalition government stood at just 14.7% in November 2025, which was down from 21.2% a month earlier, according to Spinter Tyrimai’s poll for DELFI, BNS reports. Disapproval for the government stood at 73.5%, which was up from 67.1%. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene’s popularity dropped to 4.5%, which was down…
Lithuania cannot acquiesce to China’s conditions on the Taiwanese Representative Office in Vilnius, Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to President Gitanas Nauseda, stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Skaisgiryte said that there had been no significant progress in talks on restoring full diplomatic ties with China. She did not disclose…
Belarus is holding altogether 185 Lithuanian trucks and trailers, Dovile Kraulaidiene, deputy director general of the Lithuanian Customs Department (LMD), announced, BNS reports. Earlier, the Lithuanian National Road Carriers Association (LINAVA) reported to authorities that 488 Lithuanian trucks were being detained in Belarus. However, publicly the association has provided much higher figures, claiming that as…