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On 16 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys attended the Lennart Meri Conference on foreign and security policy in Tallinn, Estonia. The Minister spoke in the discussion "Together on this path: New Momentum for Indo-Pacific and Europe".

On 16 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys attended the Lennart Meri Conference on foreign and security policy in Tallinn, Estonia. The Minister spoke  in the discussion "Together on this path:  New Momentum for Indo-Pacific and Europe".

In his speech, the Minister stressed that the global security architecture has no geographical comfort zones and what is happening in the Indo-Pacific region has a direct impact on European security – and vice versa. According to Budrys, Europe is already visible in the region, but its influence is still insufficient.

Budrys said that the EU-Indo-Pacific partnership must be based not only on shared concerns but also on shared responsibilities, capabilities, and actions.

“If we want stability both in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific region, we need to reduce vulnerabilities, defend rules that protect sovereignty, and build coalitions that can act, not just debate. That is what it means to be ‘together’, he said.

Budrys emphasized that Lithuania has adopted its national strategy based on the EU Indo-Pacific Strategy. According to the Minister, this is not just a geographical expansion for us, but an awareness that our security, prosperity, and resilience depend directly on the processes in the region.

"We are not faced with isolated regional crises, but with a unified, interconnected strategic environment. The security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific is increasingly intertwined – economically, technologically, and in terms of security," said the Minister.

In his speech, the Minister stressed the importance of economic cooperation between Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Budrys said that Lithuania welcomes the conclusion of free trade negotiations with Australia, Indonesia, and India and calls for the implementation of these agreements as soon as possible.

"We also call for accelerating negotiations with Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, which open markets, strengthen diversification of supply chains, and increase economic resilience for both the EU and the Indo-Pacific countries," he said.

The Minister also emphasized the need for cooperation in strengthening the capabilities of the defense industry. According to Budrys, Europe and the Indo-Pacific region must work together to create a faster, more integrated defense innovation ecosystem that brings together startups, industry, and government agencies so that innovations can move from concept to practical application as quickly as possible.