The programme of the new Government of Lithuania puts emphasis on Eastern Neighborhood and Georgia
On 11 December, the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania approved the programme of the 18th Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The Government, led by the Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, consists of representatives from three Centre-Right parties (Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD), Liberal Movement and Freedom Party). The leader of Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats, Gabrielius Landsbergis, has been appointed the new Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In the programme of the new Government it is emphasized that Lithuanian foreign policy will be based on the principles of democracy, human rights, rule of international law and multilateral decision making.
In the part of the priorities for foreign policy the Government focuses on the Eastern Neighborhood as well, by stressing that further enlargement of the free and united Europe is a necessary condition for Lithuania’s security and prosperity.
The programme states that it is necessary to form broader coalitions of like-minded democratic countries, transatlantic or international alliances, in order to help Belarusians in their fight for freedom and democracy, to confirm the European Union perspective for Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine until the forthcoming Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027, as well as encouragement of democracy and freedom in other countries and regions.
It is also stressed that the security situation in the region remains tense and is slowly deteriorating – Russia continues the hybrid war in Ukraine, expands its influence in the South Caucasus and Middle East, while one cannot reject the threat of Russia’s interference into the statehood of Belarus.
The new Government commits to actively supporting NATO’s open-door policy, the aspirations of Ukraine and Georgia for NATO and EU membership, the process of democracy consolidation in the countries of the Eastern Partnership. The Lithuanian Government is also ready to actively participate in forming the policy of the Eastern Partnership of the EU and NATO, strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of defense, by assisting the transformation of the armed forces of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova and increasing resilience to the hybrid and cyber threats.
