Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expressed solidarity with the United States on Wednesday following an exchange of strikes between Washington and Iran, saying the conflict also affects Lithuania’s security interests.
Speaking to reporters in Ankara, which is hosting the NATO summit, Nausėda said Lithuania was concerned about the risk of further escalation in the Middle East but supported efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
“We are, of course, concerned about further escalation of the crisis in the Middle East, but at the same time we understand that we have to solve the problems related to the possible development of nuclear weapons in Iran. So my country is in solidarity with the United States,” Nausėda said.
“It’s pretty clear that this is our conflict, our war too, and we have to stay united if we expect solidarity from the United States,” he added.
Nausėda noted that, following a decision by Lithuania’s State Defence Council in early June, the parliament, Seimas, authorised the deployment of up to 40 Lithuanian military personnel and civilian national defence employees to international operations aimed at restoring navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
