Lithuania’s acting Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said Thursday that the country’s policy toward Belarus remains unchanged despite concerns over revised wording in the new government’s program.
“Lithuania’s interest in relations with Belarus is ensuring security. Belarus is a source of hybrid threats and various actions carried out against Lithuania. As long as Belarus continues them, Lithuania will maintain a strict policy and seek additional sanctions. This is our position, and I see no changes here,” Budrys told the radio Žinių Radijas.
Questions about the government’s stance emerged after the 21st government’s program altered its wording on Belarus. While the previous program pledged to maintain the international isolation of both Russia and Belarus, the new version refers explicitly only to Russia in that context.
However, another provision states that Lithuania will strengthen the isolation of and pressure on Belarus if Minsk continues to support Russia’s war against Ukraine or carries out hybrid attacks against the European Union or Ukraine.
Budrys said the government’s action plan would further reflect Lithuania’s approach toward Belarus.
