Lithuania is not changing its stance toward Russia, but wants to resume dialogue with China
Lithuania’s new government has confirmed that it will continue to pursue a tough policy toward Russia. At the same time, Vilnius intends to gradually restore diplomatic relations with China.
The government emphasized that supporting Ukraine and deterring Russian aggression remain the country’s unwavering priorities. At the same time, the government is considering the possibility of establishing diplomatic dialogue with Beijing, while maintaining a principled stance on national security issues.
NATO Defense and Sanctions Against Russia
Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius presented the government’s program to parliament. The main focus is on defense and a shift in foreign policy toward China.
The government plans to allocate at least 5 percent of GDP to defense. The funds will go toward air defense, counter-drone capabilities, cybersecurity, and the development of the defense industry.
Vilnius also expects funding from the EU under the 2028–2034 budget to strengthen NATO’s northeastern flank.
Regarding Russia, the government intends to take active measures to maintain its international isolation and strengthen sanctions. The document emphasizes that normalizing relations with Moscow is impossible as long as the war against Ukraine continues.
Lithuania also supports the idea of using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine. The government reaffirms its support for Kyiv and believes that a just peace is possible only after Ukraine’s victory and the restoration of its territorial integrity.
Relations with China
The program states that Lithuania plans to normalize diplomatic relations with China to the level of other EU countries. This differs from the policy of the previous government, when, in 2021, Vilnius allowed Taiwan to open a representative office, which led to a downgrade in relations with China and economic restrictions.
“I feel neither love nor animosity toward China. In foreign policy, I have two priorities: the first is security, and the second is economic cooperation,” Sinkevičius said.
This was reported by Euronews.
Lithuania has declared its readiness to defend the Suwalki Corridor in the event of an attack by Russia.
As a reminder, Lithuania is preparing additional response plans in case of possible provocations from Russia. The country’s Ministry of Defense reported that security at critical infrastructure sites has already been strengthened and preparations for potential threats are underway.
Lithuania has passed a law under which the state will compensate for damages if debris from downed drones or other aerial objects causes property damage. The decision applies to actions by the Lithuanian military and NATO forces. The goal of the changes is to enable the military to make faster decisions on intercepting threats without fear of potential damage.
