News

On 23 April, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and the Ambassador of the United States of America to Lithuania Robert S. Gilchrist held a video conference to discuss bilateral cooperation in response to challenges posed by COVID-19. L. Linkevičius thanked the U.S. for the support Lithuania had received from this country, including medical supplies provided by the U.S. Army.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister regretted that the number of hostile cyber and disinformation attacks against Lithuania, its allies, international institutions, and armed forces was rising at the time of global pandemic. L. Linkevičius also underlined the importance of close continued defence cooperation with the U.S. at both bilateral level and within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

“We welcome our close cooperation with the strategic ally – the U.S.A. – aimed at giving a united response to challenges facing transatlantic security and the world in this difficult period. Our cooperation not only contributes to strengthening stability in the region, but also gives concrete expressions to the Alliance’s deterrence and defense posture. Our opponents are exploiting the global pandemic to undermine trust in those, who spare no effort to ensure both the best emergency response and security in the Euro-Atlantic space. Thus, the Euro-Atlantic allies must develop a joint response to the emerging challenge of this information and cyber pandemic," the Minister L. Linkevičius said.

The meeting focused on the European Union and NATO’s response to the outbreak, strengthening transatlantic relations, and regional security threats. The Foreign Minister also reminded the Ambassador of the issue related to the unsafe nuclear power plant in Ostrovets.

Robert S. Gilchrist is the fifteenth U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania. Lithuania and the U.S.A. established their diplomatic relations in 1922.