The President and the U.S. representative who co-chairs the Congressional Baltic Caucus together with Republican of Lithuanian descent John Shimkus talked about bilateral relations, discussed the crisis in Ukraine and Russia's actions that pose a threat to European and global security. Other points of discussion included the EU-U.S. relations and free trade talks.
"Today Russia's aggression is directed against Ukraine, tomorrow it may turn against us. A fierce information war is already on, disseminating lies and disinformation about us, humiliating and degrading the Baltic countries. Therefore, Lithuania highly values an increased attention from the United States to our regional security and specific guarantees to ensure it," the President said.
President Grybauskaitė discussed threats to the security of the whole of Europe with U.S. President Barack Obama in The Hague earlier this week and with U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden during his visit to Vilnius on 19 March. The United States has already reinforced the air policing mission in the Baltics - ten U.S. fighter jets instead of earlier four are now protecting the Baltic air space.
The President and the Congressman exchanged views on Lithuania's energy security aspirations. The President underlined that the crisis in Ukraine and Russia's aggression had clearly shown that countries which are dependent on the single supplier of gas are vulnerable. Therefore, energy independence is one of the key national interests of Lithuania.
The Lithuanian head of state has informed that the Klaipėda liquefied natural gas terminal will be launched before the end of this year and Lithuania is interested in the prospects of importing American shale gas. Political approval by the U.S. Congress is therefore needed to liberalize U.S. gas exports to European countries.
Among the other issues discussed at the meeting was the strengthening of bilateral business ties. The President said that Lithuania sought to export Lithuanian meat products to the United States. It has provided all the necessary information and expects that soon it will have an opportunity to carry out such exports.
The President and the U.S. Congressman also reviewed negotiations for the world's largest trade pact - a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States. The President noted that the talks were proceeding smoothly - several negotiation rounds have already taken place.
During the meeting, support was voiced to the outcomes of the EU-U.S. summit held earlier this week. Joint political declaration, adopted in Brussels, strongly condemns the annexation of Crimea and underlines that further steps by Russia to destabilize the situation would lead to far reaching consequences. The commitment to seek deep and comprehensive free trade agreement and cooperate in energy security is also reaffirmed. The political declaration also backs determination of Eastern Partnership countries to walk along the path of democracy and seek the signing of the EU Association Agreement with Georgia and Moldova.
