José Manuel Albares reaffirms the good state of bilateral relations with his Lithuanian counterpart

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, with his Lithuanian counterpart, Kęstutis Budrys

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has met with his Lithuanian counterpart, Kęstutis Budrys, in Madrid with whom he noted the good bilateral relations that unite both countries, cooperation in security and defence matters, the EU agenda and the main international issues.

Today's meeting is the fourth bilateral meeting so far this year, following meetings in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council in February, the NATO Ministerial in April and the informal ministerial meeting, Gymnich, in Warsaw in May. "The frequency of these meetings," said Albares, "illustrates the good shape our bilateral relations are in."

Common values

Spain and Lithuania enjoy cordial relations based on common values and on both countries' membership of the European Union and NATO. Cooperation between the two is very fluid and based on shared objectives, including in the field of security and defence.

Minister Albares stressed that Spain is firmly committed to the defence of the eastern flank and the Baltic Sea region, where it has 2,500 troops, and has been participating since 2016 in various rotations in NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission in Lithuania. The last mission was deployed from April to July 2024, and further Spanish deployments are planned from this summer.

Growing interest

In economic terms, in recent years there has been a progressive increase in the presence of Spanish companies in Lithuania and throughout the Baltic region, especially in the infrastructure sector, with Spain's participation in the strategic project to electrify the entire railway line in the region (Rail Baltica) standing out.

Albares also highlighted the recent agreement signed this May between Spain and Lithuania to promote the teaching of Spanish language and culture in the Lithuanian education system. Since 2023, Spanish has been included as a second foreign language in formal education, and from 2026 it will be included as the first foreign language.

International affairs

The challenges facing the European Union and preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague were among the items on the European and international agenda that ministers discussed at the meeting.

Albares and Budrys also shared concerns about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and the escalation of Russian attacks on Ukraine. On this war of invasion, both ministers expressed their firm commitment to support Ukraine for as long as necessary until a just and lasting peace in line with the rights enshrined in the UN Charter is achieved.

Non official translation