This year, President Donald Trump of the United States will attend the meeting of the heads of twelve Eastern and Central European states as an exceptional guest speaker.

The visit of the highest-ranking U.S. official to the Baltic Sea region is viewed internationally as an attempt to demonstrate a special attention to security of the Baltic and Eastern European countries and to once again express the U.S. commitment to NATO’s collective defense.

According to the President, Lithuania feels continuous support and sees concrete actions of the United States for countering the threat coming from the East. During the last six months, this is the third meeting between President Dalia Grybauskaitė and the highest-ranking officials of the new U.S. administration. At the end of July, a meeting between the Baltic states presidents and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is planned in Tallinn.

The issues of the European unity future and implementation of strategic projects in the areas of energy, transport and infrastructure will be also discussed at the summit in Warsaw. A joint political declaration will be adopted at the meeting.

The Three – Adriatic, Baltic and Black – Seas Initiative came into existence through the efforts of Croatia and Poland in Dubrovnik last year. It is aimed at ensuring better political, business and transport ties between the regions; promoting larger cargo and passenger flows; improving cooperation in the areas of innovations, scientific research and digital technologies; eliminating energy islands; interconnecting regional electricity and gas markets to the common EU energy market; successfully synchronizing electricity grids; and sharing experience in ensuring diversification of energy sources.

Currently, the Three Seas Initiative comprises Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, Croatia and Slovenia.

www.president.lt