The guidelines highlight political cooperation, focusing mainly on security and defense issues, economic relations, soft power areas of cooperation, such as relations with the Lithuanian community, academic centers, Jewish organizations, culture and sports.
The strategic guidelines state that the US will increasingly focus on China, while Washington’s focus on Europe will inevitably decline.
“Countries on our continent will feel increasing pressure to take more responsibility for their own security.” It cannot be ruled out that the United States, pragmatically evaluating whether each country contributes sufficiently to collective security, will push aside the unity of the allies, which has been considered a priority pillar until now,” the guidelines state.
“Therefore, it is necessary to identify right now what to choose and what actions Lithuania must take,” the authors of the guidelines add.
The strategy highlights 50 proposals and recommendations on how Lithuania could strengthen cooperation with the United States.
The document envisages the continuous presence of US troops in Lithuania, in turn, Minister of National Defense Laurynas Kasčiūnas, who visited the States this week, announced that he had already heard such a promise from US officials.
It is also intended to ensure very good conditions for exercises, accommodation and training infrastructure, and to improve conditions for military mobility.
It is planned to aim for Lithuania’s defense spending as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) to consistently approach the level of funding allocated to defense in the USA – last year the USA allocated 3.49% to defense. GDP.
The strategy also aims to increase arms acquisitions from the USA, as well as to initiate the “2+1” format of cooperation between the USA, Germany and Lithuania regarding the deployment of allied forces in Lithuania.
“Such a working tool would improve the coordination of partners’ plans and actions, strengthen the close cooperation between the USA, Germany and Lithuania,” the strategy guidelines state.
Lithuania also intends to expand the network of cooperation with the US Congressional committees and other parliamentary groups and factions, to increase the number of visits to Lithuania by US Congress members and their advisors organized by Lithuania’s initiative to at least three per year, with the aim of increasing Lithuania’s influence on US decision-makers, expanding their knowledge and attention to issues relevant to Lithuania.
The strategy also envisages developing contacts with the young generation of American politicians, for whom, according to the authors of the guidelines, “the experience of the Cold War and the importance of the transatlantic connection are no longer a directly experienced and emotionally affecting topic.”
Closer cooperation with individual states is also planned, taking into account priority areas for Lithuania, for example, in the field of biotechnology with Massachusetts, in energy – with Texas.
The strategy also envisages the establishment of branches of US political analytical centers in Lithuania, as well as laying the foundations for a US studies center to be established in Lithuania, which would conduct analysis of US political processes, establish and maintain relations with partners in the United States, and systematize information about US political processes.
It is planned to promote the development of US investments and business in Lithuania, to seek the arrival of large US companies to Lithuania, especially from the life sciences, information communication technologies and advanced engineering sectors.
“The arrival of US companies occupying leading positions in these branches would contribute to the development of advanced technologies and the creation of high added value and jobs, and the development of US economic interests in Lithuania would contribute to greater attention of US decision-makers to our security and priorities,” the strategy reads.
It is also intended to strengthen relations with the American media. It is planned to appoint a person in the Lithuanian embassy solely responsible for communication and relations with the media, to regularly maintain relations with journalists, to invite them for formal and informal conversations, to give priority to interviews of Lithuanian politicians and public figures on the networks with the largest audience – CNN, Fox News, NBC, ABC , CBS, to develop contacts with networks with more conservative audiences
As stated in the MFA’s comment sent to BNS, the document foresees the continuation of the current close cooperation between Lithuania and the USA.
“Part of the actions proposed in the strategic guidelines are already being implemented, but the strategic guidelines also include new measures aimed at comprehensively strengthening traditional friendly relations with one of our most important strategic partners in foreign and security policy, economy, investment, science and technology, culture and other important areas. in the areas”, say representatives of the ministry.
According to them, this year it is planned to update the list of measures for strengthening Lithuania’s interests in relations with the USA for 2022‒2024, approved by the order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, by formulating the corresponding measures for the period of 2025-2026.
According to the ministry, approval of the draft guidelines will be decided at the next meeting of the Government.
Tags: Ministry Foreign Affairs prepared strategy relations United States focusing defense security
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