Lithuanian formin expects US to remain key security partner whoever wins election

  • 2024-11-05
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Tuesday that he expects Washington to remain Lithuania's main security partner no matter who wins the US presidential election.  

"We don't have the luxury to choose, diversify, or express preferences; the United States is and will remain Lithuania's main strategic security and defense partner," Lithuania's top diplomat told reporters.

"I just hope that whoever is elected, that direction will not change from the US side," he added.

His comment comes as US voters head to the polls on Tuesday to choose between Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump as their next president. 

'LOOMING SENSE OF BETRAYAL' REGARDING UKRAINE  

Landsbergis said he is confident that Lithuania will have enough arguments to convince the new US administration to pay attention to regional security.

"We do have excellent arguments both in terms of defense funding and acquisitions from the US, as well as in terms of our Indo-Pacific strategy and other similar factors that are important to both sides," he said.

According to the minister, the challenge lies in maintaining US attention on supporting Ukraine.

"Those arguments about how one outcome or another of the war in Ukraine would affect European or transatlantic security didn't prevail in the debates," he said. 

Lithuania's top diplomat noted that less attention to Ukraine is evident not only in the context of the US presidential election but generally in the West.

"I see total fatigue in the West and what I would call a looming sense of betrayal," he said.

Landsbergis warned that this "looming sense of betrayal" could become a reality if Kyiv is not given enough support.

The minister noted that it is not entirely clear what strategy each party in the US election has regarding the war in Ukraine.

"We have to wait to see that; we must be ready with our arguments and prepared for scenarios that might not be very favorable," he said.

'WE'LL HAVE TO WORK IN ANY CASE' 

Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, said that no matter who is in the White House, efforts will continue to actively develop parliamentary diplomacy.

"In this term, we've been very productive in this area; there have been top-level visits, and I believe we'll keep doing that," Cmilyte-Nielsen said.

"The decision is up to America; we'll have to work in any case. The United States is truly a key partner for us, an ally in defense and other areas," she said.

The speaker linked Trump's stance on NATO and the situation in Ukraine to the election campaign.

"During our elections, politicians' rhetoric often also takes one form and sometimes shifts after elections. There are some question marks, but in any case, whatever decision the American people make, we'll work," she said.  

The West fears that NATO will face turbulent times ahead if Trump wins the election. 

During his 2017-2021 presidency, Trump criticized NATO allies for what he said was insufficient spending.

He warned in February that he would encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to any NATO member country that fails to meet the Alliance's defense spending target of two percent of GDP.

Meanwhile, Harris has criticized her opponent's statements on more than one occasion. She is expected to continue the policies of outgoing US President Joe Biden, cooperate with allies and stand by NATO.

Western allies also fear a Trump presidency could mean a decrease in military aid to Ukraine from the US, which is Kyiv's main military backer.