News

On 23 September, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, met with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in New York.

The ministers discussed the security situation in Europe and the Middle East, defence and security cooperation, the prevention of sanctions circumvention, as well as possibilities for strengthening bilateral political and economic relations.

“We value the UAE not only as an economic partner in the Gulf region, but also as an increasingly important partner on security, stability and international cooperation. We aim to turn our political dialogue and values-based solidarity into concrete results of practical cooperation that add value to people and businesses on both sides," said Budrys.

The Minister Budrys stressed the importance of safe and unrestricted navigation across the Strait of Hormuz. Budrys noted that Lithuania is ready to contribute to international efforts to ensure maritime security and the resilience of international trade chains.

Budrys also called on the UAE to step up its contribution to the prevention of sanctions circumvention, with a particular focus on the common high-priority category of goods and the so-called "shadow fleet". Budrys stressed that the effective implementation of the sanctions regime is an important part of international efforts to limit Russia's ability to continue its aggression against Ukraine.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed possibilities to expand cooperation between Lithuania and the UAE in the areas of high-tech, innovation and digitalisation.

The ministers agreed to maintain an active political dialogue and look for new opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and the UAE in both economic and security areas.