In India, Landsbergis discusses the war in Ukraine, relations with China and the diversification of supply chains
During the working visit to India on 26 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis met with the Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
The Foreign Ministers discussed possibilities for the development of bilateral relations between Lithuania and India, the war in Ukraine, the latest developments and impacts on the global security architecture, the coordination of the international community's sanctions on Russia, relations with China and its coercive economic policy, as well as the need to diversify supply chains in order to reduce dependence on autocratic states.
In the meeting, the Foreign Ministers also stressed the importance of economic cooperation for deepening bilateral relations. “The danger of Europe’s dependence on Russian oil and gas, especially during the war in Ukraine, as well as China's economic pressure on Lithuania and other countries clearly demonstrate the importance of reducing our dependence on authoritarian states' supply sources, diversifying supply chains, and focusing on boosting trade between the like-minded countries. In this light, both Lithuania and the European Union see India as a crucial partner,” Landsbergis said.
Landsbergis acquainted his Indian counterpart with Lithuania’s approach to the war in Ukraine and Russia's possible further aggression, as well as the threat that it posed to the security of Lithuania, Europe, and the world.
“The European Union finds itself in a new reality. Its attitude towards Russia has changed dramatically. Europe is now more united than ever,” Landsbergis said.
The Foreign Ministers of Lithuania and India agreed that the war in Ukraine could not leave even geographically distant countries indifferent, because of major consequences for the global economy — food and energy shortages. Therefore, we need to work together to find a solution to the situation.
During his visit to New Delhi, Landsbergis also participated in the seventh annual geopolitics and geoeconomics 'Raisina Dialogue' conference, entitled 'Terra Nova: Impassioned, Impatient, and Imperiled'. Together with the Foreign Ministers of Poland, Luxembourg, foreign policy experts from the United States and the United Kingdom, Landsbergis discussed impacts of the war in Ukraine on the European and global security architecture, the effectiveness of Western sanctions on Russia, and consequences for the global economy.
During the meeting of Lithuanian and other Foreign Ministers, who were attending the conference, with the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, Landsbergis was glad that he was visiting India on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Lithuanian-India relations. Landsbergis also presented to Modi the Lithuanian - Sanskrit dictionary, symbolizing a historical, linguistical link between Lithuania and India.
On 27 April 1992, Lithuania and India established their diplomatic relations.