Strong UK-Lithuanian relations important to face Russian-Chinese threat
Relations between the UK and Lithuania date back to the Middle Ages, as the first recorded English contact with the Baltic people of ‘Lithuania Minor’ (Prussia) was in the 9th century. Lithuania traded with medieval England, particularly in amber and honey. Relations continued in the following centuries largely due to commerce and diplomacy, and in the 19th century a significant number of our compatriots - Lithuanian Jews - came to the UK. However, the beginning of a new era of bilateral diplomatic relations between Lithuania and the UK was on 24 September 1919, when Britain recognised the Government of Lithuania.
Until WWII, the UK was a particularly important export market for Lithuania. After Brexit, relations had to be restructured. On 23 May 2022, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and the then British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss signed a declaration of bilateral cooperation. Furthermore, on 31 October 2021, the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda participated in the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, and in March 2022, he joined the Summit of the Joint Expeditionary Forces (JEF) countries in London.
In 2023, the main points on the bilateral agenda include political, military, humanitarian and other forms of support for Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression; the strengthening of sanctions against Russia, Belarus and Iran; the strengthening of the security of NATO’s Eastern flank (which is particularly relevant for the UK as the lead of the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia); and strategic communication following the Vilnius NATO Summit.
With the continuation of Russia’s war in Ukraine, security and defence remain among the top priorities. This includes the UK’s continued participation in ensuring security in the Baltic Sea region and close cooperation between the EU and the UK on foreign policy issues like providing support for Ukraine. In this context, contribution of Lithuanian instructors to the British-led multinational military operation ‘Interflex’ to train and support the Armed Forces of Ukraine is well noted.
In addition, both Lithuania and the UK strongly believe that NATO is the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security and the bedrock of our collective defence. For both, deterrence and defence remain central pillars of the alliance.
Therefore, Lithuania and the UK need to further strengthen cooperation not only on conventional defence, but also in areas such as resilience, including cyber defence and countering hybrid threats, military mobility in Europe, addressing Russia’s threat and China’s challenge as well as energy and climate security. We should work together to take forward the NATO 2030 agenda and develop NATO’s next Strategic Concept to strengthen our alliance.
The status of Lithuania as the host of the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July this year created new opportunities to deepen and strengthen cooperation between Lithuania and the UK on security and defence matters, as well as to position Lithuania as a geopolitically active and valuable state.
Furthermore, Lithuania is interested in deepening EU-UK cooperation as ambitiously as possible.
Obviously, bilateral relations can’t be limited only to security or EU cooperation, as established security between countries requires stable economic relations. In 2022, the trade turnover between the UK and Lithuania amounted to €3.02 billion. Lithuania exported goods worth €1.54 billion to the UK, situating the UK in nineth in terms of Lithuanian foreign exports. In addition, Lithuania imported €1.48 million in trade from the UK, making the UK the 13th most notable country where Lithuania obtained imports. The UK mainly imported furniture (21 per cent), wood, fertilizers and tobacco from Lithuania, while Lithuania imported mineral fuel (75 per cent), mechanical machines and devices (4 per cent), electrical machines and devices, and plastics from the UK. However, while Lithuania’s direct investments in the UK in 2023-08 amounted to €20,25 million (20th place), the UK’s investment in Lithuania was €2.04 billion. However, there is still room for improvement.
Furthermore, harnessing the outcomes from COP26 to address climate change challenges, we will collaborate on developing clean, renewable energy systems, focusing on development of offshore wind and low carbon hydrogen industries. We will seek to build closer links between our business and science communities in advancing our digital economies, smart cities, and environmentally sustainable infrastructure. We will foster cooperation to promote the sustainable and safe application of emerging technologies including FinTech, GovTech, artificial intelligence and 5/6G. We will also support approaches that incorporate security in new technologies and promote more diverse, secure, and resilient technology supply chains.
To create good bilateral relations and foster a successful political partnership, it is important to effectively use the tools of “soft power”. This means promoting Lithuanian culture, art and scientific thought and the further dissemination of Lithuanian professional culture. The year 2023 provides a unique opportunity to present Lithuania to the UK as a country of deep traditions with an old multi-ethnic and multicultural capital Vilnius, which this year celebrates its 700th anniversary.
Indeed, the Lithuanian diaspora in the UK, as well as British nationals residing and working in Lithuania, are one of the strongest links between our countries. They are building prosperity and providing a valuable cultural contribution in both Lithuania and the UK.
Eitvydas Bajarūnas is the Ambassador of Lithuania to the United Kingdom.
