Event Recap

New Atlanticist

Jun 16, 2022

Lithuanian PM: Russia ‘keeps on proving we were right’

By Dan Peleschuk

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė described how her country responds to the stark geopolitical realities presented by Russia and other problematic states.

Crisis Management Eastern Europe

On the frontlines of democracy in Europe, Lithuania has proven to be a key power in rallying global support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s war to wipe out Ukrainian independence and identity. Working together with the other countries in the region, Lithuania has poured military, humanitarian, and economic aid into Ukraine not only to help Ukrainians withstand Russia’s aggression, but to win this fight. At the same time, Lithuania has also risen to the challenges of the moment like few others. Lithuania provides crucial support to the democratic opposition in Belarus as it continues to stand against Belarusian dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka who not just unleashed a violent terror campaign against his own people, but now stands as a willing accomplice to Vladimir Putin’s aggression. Lithuania has also made global headlines for letting Taipei open a Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius despite massive economic and political pressure from Beijing.

What comes next for the Baltic states as Russia threatens Europe beyond Ukraine, and how can Lithuania continue working with its allies to support Ukrainian independence? What role does Lithuania see for itself as Belarus’ dependency on Russia continues to increase? What does Lithuania see as the challenges China poses to European states, and is Lithuania a model for combining economic security with a values-based foreign policy?

To discuss these critical issues, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė joined the Atlantic Council for a conversation with Dr. Evelyn Farkas about the challenges facing the global community and Lithuania’s role in addressing them. Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky, vice chair of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security and senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science & International Affairs’ Future of Diplomacy Project with Harvard University, provided opening remarks.

An #ACFrontPage event

Atlantic Council Front Page is our premier live ideas platform for global leaders to discuss the defining challenges of our time. #ACFrontPage is a virtual event series featuring top newsmakers across multiple digital platforms. Harnessing the convening power and expertise of the Council’s fifteen Programs and Centers, #ACFrontPage leverages the Council’s capabilities in social media, press, and digital outreach to spotlight the world’s most prominent leaders and the most compelling ideas across sectors and engage new audiences eager for nonpartisan and constructive solutions to current global challenges. This widely promoted program features the Council’s most important guests and content serving as the highlight of our programming each week.

A conversation with

Photo of the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Simonyte

H.E. Ingrida Šimonytė

Prime Minister of Lithuania

Moderated by

Dr. Evelyn Farkas

Executive Director, McCain Institute
Arizona State University

With opening remarks by

issue spotlight

Co-hosted in partnership

This edition of #ACFrontPage is organized jointly by the Eurasia Center, Europe Center, Global China Hub, and the Transatlantic Security Initiative.