Vilnius drafts new strategy for relations with Berlin

VILNIUS - Lithuania wants to take advantage of the deployment of the German brigade assigned to the country and strengthen its strategic partnership with the Germany, according to the draft strategic guidelines for Lithuania's relations with Germany, which are being prepared by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Defense and other ministries and institutions.

The document includes not only joint projects in the fields of defense, the economy and strengthening ties with German states, but also the promotion of the German language, culture and media in Lithuania.

The Lithuanian government approved a similar strategy for relations with the United States in May.

"Successful implementation of the guidelines will mean more Germany in Lithuania and more Lithuania in Germany," reads the document, seen by BNS, which is still being negotiated.

The German brigade's deployment in Lithuania will make a significant contribution to the strengthening of bilateral relations, it says.

"This major transformation of German foreign policy since the end of the Cold War, as well as its symbol - the decision to deploy a brigade in Lithuania - should be used as a catalyst for bilateral relations in other areas. This is a strategic opportunity for Lithuania," the draft document reads.

Its authors states that the brigade's deployment creates new opportunities for further strengthening of security and defense cooperation, in particular as regards the development of projects for the acquisition of weapons and equipment and the promotion of German investment into the Lithuanian defense industry.

"When we see what is happening in Washington, the Germans are becoming a positively dominant force in the European Union and in NATO's European pillar. It is in our interest that they take that leadership even more actively, especially in the area of defense", Zygimantas Pavilionis, the chairman of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs, told BNS.

His committee discussed the draft guidelines last week. "We need to make sure that this leadership can be positive," he said.

The strategy aims to consolidate the practice of holding regular intergovernmental meetings, promoting regular visits by top officials, cooperation between ministries and other institutions, and holding regular consultations on key foreign policy issues.

Lithuania will seek to make Germany's position on EU enlargement more favorable, as well as to seek greater financial and military assistance from Berlin to Ukraine, and more support for Ukraine's EU accession, the document reads.

The strategic guidelines include a desire to strengthen Lithuania's ties with Germany's federal lands and consider the possibility of establishing new consulates-general or economic missions there in the coming decades.

The strategy also includes major plans to strengthening economic ties, with the aim of attracting German investment into Lithuania's defense industry, life science technologies, and strengthening cooperation with the German electronics and automotive industries.

The strategy sets the goal of increasing the number of children learning German to at least 30 percent over the next five years, as well as translating the websites of the Lithuanian ministries and other institutions into German.

The aim is also to encourage the broadcasting of German TV and radio channels in Lithuania.

The draft guidelines are still being negotiated by Lithuania's ministries and other institutions, and the final document will have to be approved by the Lithuanian government.

Lithuania and Germany have been actively cooperating in the field of defense since 2017 when Germany took the lead of the NATO battalion deployed in Lithuania. Lithuania has purchased a lot of military equipment from Germany.

Last year, Berlin committed to permanently deploy a brigade in Lithuania by 2027.