About: Lithuania
EU ministers back border fences to deal with Eastern threats
Several EU interior ministers came together on Friday (21 January) to discuss how to step up the protection of EU external borders but failed to agree on a common approach, with options ranging from building fences on the borders to strengthening Schengen and migration legislation.
US clears Baltic states to send US-made weapons to Ukraine
The US State Department has cleared Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to send US-made missiles and other weapons to Ukraine, three sources familiar with the decision said, as President Joe Biden predicted Russia would move on Ukraine.
Lithuanian businesses grind on under Chinese pressure
As China is putting pressure on Lithuanian businesses and on other firms that deal with Lithuanian businesses, due to a row over diplomatic ties between Lithuania and Taiwan. The businesses themselves, however, remain silent.
Baltics in talks to increase NATO troops on their soil
The Baltic States are talking to NATO allies about increasing military deployments on their soil to deter Russia, Estonia's prime minister told Reuters on Wednesday (13 January), and NATO's chief said any Russian attack on Ukraine would spur a decision.
Taiwan announces further $1 billion investment for Lithuania amid Beijing pressure
Taiwan announced the launch of a $1 billion credit programme to fund joint projects between Lithuanian and Taiwanese companies in six business categories, a Taiwan government minister said on Tuesday (11 January).
Taiwan offers a port in a diplomatic storm for Lithuanian rum
A state-run Taiwanese liquor company said Monday it has snapped up 20,000 bottles of Lithuanian rum that were blocked from China after a diplomatic row broke out between Beijing and Vilnius
Dombrovskis: China’s Lithuania blockade hits other EU exports
EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis warned that a Chinese blockade of Lithuania's exports over a dispute about Taiwan was increasingly affecting firms from other EU countries, in an interview published Friday (24 December).
Lithuania says migrant numbers from Belarus could soon increase
Lithuanian Interior Ministry said Belarus authorities have ordered migrants to be cleared from a warehouse near the Polish border and from Minsk, which could lead to renewed attempts to push the migrants in large numbers into the European Union.
EU may involve WTO to resolve China-Lithuania trade row, Commission says
The European Union may take the trade row between China and Lithuania to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) if it finds evidence that Beijing is violating international trade rules, the bloc's executive Commission said on Friday.
Taiwan will support Lithuania in face of intimidation from China, envoy says
Taiwan will deepen economic ties with Lithuania in a "cycle of goodwill" as it faces pressure from Beijing, Taiwan's de facto ambassador to the United States said on Wednesday (15 December), after Lithuania's diplomatic delegation hastily departed China.
Biden talks to central Europe leaders, pledges more ‘military capabilities’
US President Joe Biden promised central European NATO members "additional military capabilities" on Thursday (9 December) and pledged to involve them in decisions about the region, Lithuania's presidential advisor said.
China stops Lithuanian goods at customs, Commission ‘collects information’
China has banned Lithuanian products from entering the Chinese market amid growing tensions, according to Lithuanian media on Thursday (2 December). The European Commission said it is still gathering information and will return to the matter later.
Taiwan, Europe must defend democracy together, president tells visiting Baltic MPs
Taiwan and Europe must work together to defend against authoritarianism and disinformation, President Tsai Ing-wen told visiting lawmakers from the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on Monday (29 November).
China downgrades diplomatic ties with Lithuania over Taiwan
China downgraded its diplomatic ties with Lithuania on Sunday (21 November), expressing strong dissatisfaction with the Baltic State after Taiwan opened a de facto embassy there, escalating a row that has sucked in Washington.
Neighbours of Belarus say migrant crisis risks military clash
Countries bordering Belarus expressed concern on Thursday (11 November) that a crisis over growing numbers of migrants trying to break through its frontiers into the European Union could escalate into a military confrontation. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia condemned “the deliberate...
EU considers sanctions on Minsk airport over migrant crisis
The European Union is considering imposing sanctions on Belarus' main airport in a bid to make it more difficult for airlines to bring in migrants and exacerbate a crisis on the bloc's borders, two diplomats said on Thursday (11 November).
EU pushes to extend sanctions on airlines ‘involved in human trafficking’ via Belarus
Several high-ranking EU officials have called for extensive sanctions on Minsk on Monday evening (8 November) as tensions mount along Belarus's border with Poland over large numbers of migrants attempting to cross the EU's border.
Lithuania says its rocky ties with China are a ‘wake up call’ for Europe
China's treatment of Lithuania is a "wake up call" for Europe, Lithuania's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday (3 November), calling for the European Union to be united in dealings with Beijing.
Taiwan delegation irks China with eastern Europe tour
A Taiwanese government delegation is visiting three eastern EU members to the dismay of China, which is irritated by any signs of Taiwan acting as an independent country.
Taiwan foreign minister adds Slovakia to rare Europe trip
Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu will visit Slovakia next week on a rare trip to Europe that will also include a trip to the neighbouring Czech Republic and a virtual address to a forum in Rome, his ministry said.
EU weighs further sanctions on Belarus over illegal migrants
European Union foreign ministers debated new economic sanctions on Belarus on Monday (18 October), including on airlines, to halt what Brussels says is a deliberate policy by Minsk to fly in thousands of migrants and send them across the border.
Lithuania expects delayed Polish gas link to integrate markets
A pipeline designed to connect the gas grids of Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Finland to continental Europe will begin operating in the second half of 2022 after a delay of almost a year, the Lithuanian energy minister told Reuters.
Xiaomi says its smartphones do not censor users following Lithuania report
China's Xiaomi Corp said on Wednesday (22 September) that its devices do not censor users' communications, a day after Lithuania's Defence Ministry recommended that consumers avoid Chinese phones due to a censoring feature in the smartphone giant's flagship phone.