According to President Dalia Grybauskaitė, the meeting is designed to ensure the continuity of cooperation between the Baltic countries and the United States. This year marks 15 years since the signing of the U.S.-Baltic Charter of Partnership which expressly confirmed the United States' support for the aspirations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to join NATO. It also stated that the United States of America had a real, profound, and enduring interest in the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the Baltic States.
"It is symbolic that we are meeting 15 years after the U.S.-Baltic Charter was signed. The goals that were set have been achieved. As we work towards ensuring military, energy, cyber and economic security, we still encounter new challenges today," the President said.
During their meeting, the Presidents of the Baltic States and the United States will focus on energy security, economic cooperation as well as relations with Eastern Partnership countries and Russia. They will also discuss geopolitical changes and processes posing a threat to the security of the region. A joint statement of the Presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and the United States is expected to be issued after the meeting.
The Presidents of the Baltic countries and the United States will exchange views on economic cooperation and negotiations between the European Union and the United States for the Transatlantic Trade Agreement.
Before their White House meeting with President Barack Obama, the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian heads of state will review issues of utmost importance to the Baltic region at a trilateral working level as well as with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden.
