With Lithuania celebrating the centennial of restored statehood, the visit of the Dutch Royal couple stands as a symbol of close friendship between Lithuania and the Netherlands and an excellent opportunity for further bilateral cooperation. During the royal visit, Lithuanian and Dutch relations in business, trade and culture, cooperation in NATO and in the European Union will be in the focus. The President of Lithuania and the King of the Netherlands will open a business forum of both countries and will meet with Dutch troops deployed with the multinational NATO battalion.
Dutch soldiers were among the first to join the German-led NATO enhanced forward presence battalion in Lithuania. Dutch fighter jets fighter jets have repeatedly served in the Baltic Air Policing mission. Lithuania, too, actively contributes to the Dutch initiative to improve military mobility in the EU for ensuring non-restricted movement of allied military equipment. The Netherlands is one of the most important economic partners of Lithuania and the second largest investor.
As Lithuania marks 100 years of its restored independence, it has attracted special attention from European royal families: Crown Prince Haakon of Norway is also expected to visit Lithuania. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband Prince Daniel were in Vilnius on February 16 for festive centennial events.
