According to Remigijus Motuzas, Chair of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs, who presented the resolution, support for Ukraine remains a key priority. In the resolution, the Seimas has once again condemned Russia’s unprovoked and illegal military aggression against Ukraine, as well as Russia’s acts of sabotage and unprecedented interference in democratic processes and internal affairs of other states.
The new legislature of the Seimas undertook to continue its unconditional support to Ukraine. It also pledged to work actively with its allies to provide Ukraine with full political, military, humanitarian, legal, economic, and financial support and to ensure uninterrupted funding for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The resolution consolidates Lithuania’s commitment to spending at least 0.25 % GDP per year on Ukraine’s defence and security sector.
‘The military threats emerging from cooperation between Russia, China, Iran and North Korea can only be countered by a NATO which is united and strong from a military perspective and the Alliance’s readiness to deter and to defend depends on the contribution and long-term financial commitment of all its members as well as on the ability of the EU to develop its defence industry within the shortest possible time frame,’ the document reads.
In the resolution, the Seimas pledged to strengthen national, European, and international sanctions against Russia and the countries, companies, and individuals who support its aggression, as well as to consistently and ambitiously increase defence spending to at least 3.5 % of the country’s GDP.
The Seimas holds the opinion that China, being a key enabler of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, poses an increasing threat to Lithuania’s foreign and security policy. Therefore, the Seimas advocates strengthening the partnership with Indo-Pacific countries in both bilateral and NATO+ formats, calls for a review of the EU’s policy on China, and supports further development of economic, trade and cultural relations with Taiwan.
Mr Motuzas emphasised that the resolution places significant focus on both our national and regional security.
The Seimas agrees that the US is Lithuania’s most important strategic partner and ally, whose military strength is a key factor in ensuring Russia’s deterrence in the Baltic Sea region. The Seimas also believes that the partnership between Lithuania and Germany in developing bilateral relations and cooperating within the framework of the EU and NATO is of exceptional strategic importance.
‘The key priority of Lithuania’s foreign and security policy is to ensure a credible NATO deterrence and defence posture in the Baltic region and the entire eastern part of the Alliance, by strengthening NATO’s Forward Presence, hosting a permanent German brigade, achieving an uninterrupted presence of the U.S. troops in Lithuania, implementing the rotational air defence model, ensuring all necessary Host Nation support to Allied forces in Lithuania, and strengthening the continuous guarding of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea in cooperation with NATO Allies,’ the resolution reads.
The Lithuanian Parliament has confirmed that it will strengthen its strategic partnership with Poland, especially in the areas of defence and security policy, by ensuring political cooperation with Poland on bilateral and regional issues, with a special focus on cooperation in the Lublin Triangle format.
The document also highlights that the Seimas supports the EU enlargement to the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries, in line with the accession criteria set out in the EU treaties. The resolution focuses on the European integration in Ukraine and Moldova and the aspiration of these countries to join the EU by 2029. The resolution also expresses solidarity with the Georgians seeking membership of the Euro-Atlantic structures. The Seimas will seek broad political consensus on key operational priorities and the smooth functioning of the state institutions in preparation for and during the Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2027.
Furthermore, the Seimas will seek even closer cooperation in the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) format. The Parliament undertakes to contribute to the strengthening of the cooperation between the EU and the United Kingdom. The Seimas also highlights the importance of the strategic partnership between Lithuania and France and sees the need to strengthen the bilateral security, defence, economic, and cultural relations with France. Additionally, the Seimas advocates further development of strategic political, economic, security, and cultural relations with Israel and the world Litvak community.
As noted in the resolution, the Seimas fully supports the democratic opposition in Belarus in its efforts to bring about democratic change, host free and democratic elections in Belarus, achieve the release of all political prisoners, and seek accountability of the current authoritarian regime in Belarus, which is an ally of Russia in its war against Ukraine.
The Seimas resolution was adopted by 104 votes in favour, with 2 votes against and 10 abstentions.
