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On 29-30 March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis received the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna. The meetings focused on support for Ukraine, preparations for NATO’s upcoming summit in Vilnius, cooperation within the European Union and bilateral cooperation, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and Africa.

The Foreign Ministers unanimously agreed on the need to support Ukraine, providing assistance without further delay. “Russia threatens to use nuclear weapons to take advantage of our fears. But such emotional manipulation is a weapon of the weak,” Landsbergis said. “The only way not to succumb to fear is to show united strength, through a further tightening sanctions and unquestionable defence of NATO’s eastern flank.”

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister stressed that Lithuania and France enjoyed a strong strategic partnership and shared a desire to build a strong and united Europe based on democratic values. Landsbergis also thanked France for its leadership in Europe and support for addressing critical issues, especially in the face of China’s economic coercion and the attack on Lithuania by the Belarusian regime weaponizing illegal migration into the EU.

When thanking France for its essential contribution to the security of NATO’s eastern flank, the Foreign Minister underlined our close bilateral cooperation in the field of defence. “We are buying French Caesar Mark-II self-propelled howitzers and hoping that the French fighter jets that have patrolled the Baltic airspace until April will soon return to continue this mission,” Landsbergis said. “The presence of partner troops and participation in NATO missions and exercises in our country is the best example of our unity and mutual solidarity,” Landsbergis said.

“We believe that the Vilnius NATO summit will make history with its important decisions on NATO defence plans, air defence and increased forces in the Baltic states,” Landsbergis recalled. This summer, the NATO summit will take place in Vilnius for the first time. The French President, Foreign and Defense Ministers will also attend it.

Landsbergis also welcomed the opportunity given to Lithuania to organize the Lithuanian season in France next year and widely present the Lithuanian culture, our approach to foreign policy, European security, historical memory, and the dissemination of democracy.

Later today, Colonna will also meet with the Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, attend a meeting with students from Vilnius University and visit soldiers of the French Air Force at Šiauliai Air Base, who are currently protecting the airspace over the Baltic states.
 
It is the French Foreign Minister’s first visit to Lithuania since the 2022 elections in France.