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On 25 September, on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Kęstutis Budrys met with Carlos Ramiro Martínez Alvarado, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala. During the meeting, the ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations between Lithuania and Guatemala, which will strengthen regular political dialogue and create new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

Budrys emphasized that Lithuania and Guatemala have been steadily strengthening their political ties in recent years and maintaining an active dialogue within international organizations.

“We value the growing dialogue between Lithuania and Guatemala. The signed memorandum will provide a solid foundation for regular political consultations, new initiatives, and even closer cooperation between our countries,” said the head of Lithuanian diplomacy.

The ministers also discussed opportunities to coordinate efforts in 2027, when Lithuania will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and Guatemala will chair the Central American Integration System (SICA). K. Budrys noted that this period presents a unique opportunity to strengthen the partnership between the European Union and the countries of Central America.

“The year 2027 will provide Lithuania and Guatemala with an opportunity to work more closely together in addressing global challenges, strengthening interregional dialogue, and developing new formats of cooperation between the European Union and Central America,” the Minister said.

During the meeting, Budrys also encouraged Guatemala to continue supporting Ukraine at the United Nations and to remain steadfast in defending international law. The Minister stressed that Russia continues to seek ways to exploit international organizations to spread its propaganda narratives and justify its aggression against Ukraine.

The ministers also discussed opportunities for development cooperation. Lithuania offered to share its expertise in strengthening democratic, digital, social, environmental, and economic resilience, and invited Guatemala to participate in initiatives organized by Lithuania and the OECD aimed at countering foreign information threats and enhancing information resilience.