Editing Lithuania (section)

===Foreign relations===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Lithuania}}

Lithuania became a member of the United Nations on 18 September 1991, and is a signatory to a number of its organizations and other international agreements. It is also a member of the [[European Union]], the [[Council of Europe]], [[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]], as well as [[NATO]] and its adjunct North Atlantic Coordinating Council. Lithuania gained membership in the [[World Trade Organization]] on 31 May 2001, and joined the [[OECD]] on 5 July 2018,<ref name="Lithuania's accession to the OECD">{{cite web|url=http://www.oecd.org/countries/lithuania/lithuania-accession-to-the-oecd.htm|publisher=[[OECD]]|title=Lithuania's accession to the OECD|date=5 July 2016|access-date=6 July 2016|archive-date=5 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705150906/https://www.oecd.org/countries/lithuania/lithuania-accession-to-the-oecd.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> while also seeking membership in other Western organizations.

Lithuania has established diplomatic relations with 149 countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urm.lt/index.php?949836981 |title=Ministry of Foreign Affairs: List of countries with which Lithuania has established diplomatic relations |website=Urm.lt |access-date=2 January 2011 |archive-date=9 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209094022/http://www.urm.lt/index.php?949836981}}</ref>

In 2011, Lithuania hosted the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] Ministerial Council Meeting. During the second half of 2013, Lithuania assumed the role of the [[presidency of the Council of the European Union|presidency of the European Union]].

[[File:Lithuania presidency EU stamp 2013.jpg|thumb|right|Stamp dedicated to Lithuania's presidency of the European Union. Post of Lithuania, 2013.]]
Lithuania is also active in developing cooperation among northern European countries. It is a member of the interparliamentary [[Baltic Assembly]], the intergovernmental [[Baltic Council of Ministers]] and the [[Council of the Baltic Sea States]].

Lithuania also cooperates with Nordic and the two other Baltic countries through the [[Nordic-Baltic Eight]] format. A similar format, NB6, unites Nordic and Baltic members of EU. NB6's focus is to discuss and agree on positions before presenting them to the Council of the European Union and at the meetings of EU foreign affairs ministers.

The [[Council of the Baltic Sea States]] (CBSS) was established in [[Copenhagen]] in 1992 as an informal regional political forum. Its main aim is to promote integration and to close contacts between the region's countries. The members of CBSS are [[Iceland]], [[Sweden]], [[Denmark]], [[Norway]], [[Finland]], [[Germany]], Lithuania, [[Latvia]], [[Estonia]], [[Poland]], [[Russia]], and the European Commission. Its observer states are [[Belarus]], [[France]], [[Italy]], [[Netherlands]], [[Romania]], [[Slovakia]], [[Spain]], the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], and [[Ukraine]].

The [[Nordic Council|Nordic Council of Ministers]] and Lithuania engage in political cooperation to attain mutual goals and to determine new trends and possibilities for joint cooperation. The council's information office aims to disseminate [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] concepts and to demonstrate and promote Nordic cooperation.

[[File:Bachelet en Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU (2015).jpg|thumb|Lithuania was a member of the [[United Nations Security Council]]. Its representatives are on the right side.]]
Lithuania, together with the five Nordic countries and the two other Baltic countries, is a member of the [[Nordic Investment Bank|Nordic Investment Bank (NIB)]] and cooperates in its NORDPLUS programme, which is committed to education.

The Baltic Development Forum (BDF) is an independent nonprofit organization that unites large companies, cities, business associations and institutions in the Baltic Sea region. In 2010 the BDF's 12th summit was held in Vilnius.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdforum.org/|title=Home – Baltic Development Forum|website=Baltic Development Forum|access-date=18 October 2018|archive-date=26 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426202715/http://www.bdforum.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Poland]] was highly supportive of Lithuanian independence, despite Lithuania's [[Lithuanization|discriminatory treatment]] of its [[Poles in Lithuania|Polish minority]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Situation of Polish minorities in Lithuania is a discrimination of EU citizens |url=http://media.efhr.eu/2017/05/09/situation-polish-minorities-lithuania-discrimination-eu-citizens/ |work=[[European Foundation of Human Rights]] |date=9 May 2017 |access-date=18 October 2019 |archive-date=27 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627224730/https://media.efhr.eu/2017/05/09/situation-polish-minorities-lithuania-discrimination-eu-citizens/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Dyskryminacja Polaków na Litwie. Zbierają pieniądze na grzywnę |url=https://www.polskieradio.pl/5/3/Artykul/1028881,Dyskryminacja-Polakow-na-Litwie-Zbieraja-pieniadze-na-grzywne |work=[[Polskie Radio]] |date=20 January 2014 |access-date=18 October 2019 |archive-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222405/https://www.polskieradio.pl/5/3/Artykul/1028881,Dyskryminacja-Polakow-na-Litwie-Zbieraja-pieniadze-na-grzywne |url-status=live}}</ref> The former [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|Solidarity]] leader and Polish President [[Lech Wałęsa]] criticised the government of Lithuania over discrimination against the Polish minority and rejected Lithuania's [[Order of Vytautas the Great]].<ref>"[http://thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/54645,Walesa-declines-Lithuanian-honour Walesa declines Lithuanian honour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014092518/http://thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/54645,Walesa-declines-Lithuanian-honour |date=14 October 2017}}". Radio Poland. 7 September 2011.</ref> Lithuania maintains greatly warm mutual relations with [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and strongly supports its European Union and NATO aspirations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Valdo Adamkaus bulvaras Gruzijoje|url=http://global.truelithuania.com/lt/tag/valdas-adamkus-boulevard-in-anaklia-georgia/|website=True Lithuania|access-date=16 January 2018|language=lt-LT|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623223004/http://global.truelithuania.com/lt/tag/valdas-adamkus-boulevard-in-anaklia-georgia/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Premjeras: Lietuvą ir Gruziją sieja daugiau nei paprasta draugystė|url=https://ministraspirmininkas.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/premjeras-lietuva-ir-gruzija-sieja-daugiau-nei-paprasta-draugyste|website=MinistrasPirmininkas.LRV.lt|access-date=30 March 2017|language=lt|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222740/https://ministraspirmininkas.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/premjeras-lietuva-ir-gruzija-sieja-daugiau-nei-paprasta-draugyste|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=L. Linkevičius: esame pasirengę remti Gruziją ruošiantis ES Rytų partnerystės viršūnių susitikimui|url=https://ua.mfa.lt/default/lt/naujienos/l-linkevicius-esame-pasirenge-remti-gruzija-ruosiantis-es-rytu-partnerystes-virsuniu-susitikimui-|website=ua.mfa.lt|access-date=8 February 2017|language=lt|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222040/https://ua.mfa.lt/default/lt/naujienos/l-linkevicius-esame-pasirenge-remti-gruzija-ruosiantis-es-rytu-partnerystes-virsuniu-susitikimui-}}</ref> During the [[Russo-Georgian War]] in 2008, when the Russian troops were occupying the territory of Georgia and approaching towards the Georgian capital [[Tbilisi]], President [[Valdas Adamkus]], together with the Polish and Ukrainian presidents, went to Tbilisi by answering to the Georgians request of the international assistance.<ref>{{cite web|title=V.Adamkus išskrenda į rusų okupuojamą Gruziją|url=https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/v.adamkus-isskrenda-i-rusu-okupuojama-gruzija-atnaujinta-07.36-val-57-2552|website=[[15min.lt]]|access-date=11 August 2008|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623222226/https://www.15min.lt/naujiena/aktualu/pasaulis/v.adamkus-isskrenda-i-rusu-okupuojama-gruzija-atnaujinta-07.36-val-57-2552|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=V.Adamkus: mes esame su Gruzija|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/vadamkus-mes-esame-su-gruzija.d?id=18078623|website=[[DELFI]]|access-date=12 August 2008|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417194857/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/vadamkus-mes-esame-su-gruzija.d?id=18078623|url-status=live}}</ref> Shortly, Lithuanians and the [[Catholic Church in Lithuania|Lithuanian Catholic Church]] also began collecting financial support for the war victims.<ref>{{cite web|title=Renkamos aukos nukentėjusiems nuo karo Gruzijoje|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/renkamos-aukos-nukentejusiems-nuo-karo-gruzijoje.d?id=18053959|website=[[DELFI]]|access-date=11 August 2008|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417192337/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/renkamos-aukos-nukentejusiems-nuo-karo-gruzijoje.d?id=18053959|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bažnyčia ragina nelikti abejingiems karui Gruzijoje|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/baznycia-ragina-nelikti-abejingiems-karui-gruzijoje.d?id=18071947|website=[[DELFI]]|access-date=11 August 2008|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417194918/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/baznycia-ragina-nelikti-abejingiems-karui-gruzijoje.d?id=18071947|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2004–2009, [[Dalia Grybauskaitė]] served as [[European Commissioner for Financial Programming and the Budget]] within the [[José Manuel Barroso]]-led Commission.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maurer |first1=Andreas |last2=Reichel |first2=Sarah |last3=Jonas |first3=Alexandra |title=The Future European Commission The Debate Regarding Leadership, Collegiality and Tasks |url=https://www.swp-berlin.org/publications/products/comments/comments2004_25_mrr_ks.pdf |access-date=28 October 2022 |archive-date=28 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028104308/https://www.swp-berlin.org/publications/products/comments/comments2004_25_mrr_ks.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hollar|first=Sherman|date=1 June 2012|title=Dalia Grybauskaite president of Lithuania|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dalia-Grybauskaite|access-date=25 June 2021|website=Britannica|archive-date=3 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103162421/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Dalia-Grybauskaite|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Guests of the 2023 Vilnius NATO Summit in the Courtyard of the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Lithuania.jpg|thumb|Guests of the 2023 Vilnius (NATO) summit in the Courtyard of the Presidential Palace in Vilnius]]
In 2013, Lithuania was elected to the [[United Nations Security Council]] for a two-year term,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46277&Cr=security+council&Cr1=#.UmFPr1OWDtk |title=Chad, Chile, Lithuania, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia elected to serve on UN Security Council |website=Un.org |date=17 October 2013 |access-date=30 April 2016 |archive-date=20 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020020717/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46277&Cr=security+council&Cr1=#.UmFPr1OWDtk |url-status=live}}</ref> becoming the first [[Baltic states|Baltic]] country elected to this post. During its membership, Lithuania actively supported [[Ukraine]] and often condemned [[Russia]] for the [[Russo-Ukrainian War|war in Ukraine]], immediately earning vast Ukrainians esteem.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uatoday.tv/geopolitics/lithuania-calls-un-security-council-meeting-on-ukraine-403385.html|title=Lithuania calls UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine|website=Uatoday.tv|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-date=3 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603213903/http://uatoday.tv/geopolitics/lithuania-calls-un-security-council-meeting-on-ukraine-403385.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lankininkaitė|first1=Rūta|title=Ukrainiečiai: Lietuva – mums pavyzdys|url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/world/ukrainieciai-lietuva-mums-pavyzdys.d?id=67403332|website=[[DELFI]], [[Lithuanian National Radio and Television|LRT]]|access-date=11 March 2015|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417194911/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/world/ukrainieciai-lietuva-mums-pavyzdys.d?id=67403332|url-status=live}}</ref> As the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]] progressed, President Dalia Grybauskaitė has compared the Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] to [[Josef Stalin]] and to [[Adolf Hitler]], she has also called Russia a "terrorist state".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/the-baltic-iron-lady-putins-solitary-foe-dalia-grybauskaite/|title=The Baltic 'Iron Lady': Putin's solitary foe|website=Politico.eu|date=21 May 2015|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-date=3 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703110448/https://www.politico.eu/article/the-baltic-iron-lady-putins-solitary-foe-dalia-grybauskaite/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018 Lithuania, along with Latvia and Estonia were awarded the {{ill|Peace of Westphalia Prize|de|Internationaler Preis des Westfälischen Friedens}} – for their exceptional model of democratic development and contribution to peace in the continent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prestigious Peace of Westphalia Prize – for Lithuania and the Baltic states |url=https://www.lrp.lt/en/press-centre/press-releases/prestigious-peace-of-westphalia-prize-for-lithuania-and-the-baltic-states/29212 |website=Lrp.lt |access-date=14 July 2018 |archive-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703111813/https://www.lrp.lt/en/press-centre/press-releases/prestigious-peace-of-westphalia-prize-for-lithuania-and-the-baltic-states/29212}}</ref> In 2019 Lithuania condemned the [[2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria|Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria]].<ref>{{cite news |title=EU condemning Turkey is only the beginning, says Lithuanian Foreign Minister |url=https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/news-in-english/19/1106677/eu-condemning-turkey-is-only-the-beginning-says-lithuanian-foreign-minister |work=LRT RADIJAS |date=14 October 2019 |access-date=18 October 2019 |archive-date=23 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623221806/https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/news-in-english/19/1106677/eu-condemning-turkey-is-only-the-beginning-says-lithuanian-foreign-minister |url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2021, Lithuania reported that in an escalation of the diplomatic spat with [[China]] over its [[Lithuania–Taiwan relations|relations with Taiwan]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lau |first1=Stuart |last2=Moens |first2=Barbara |title=China's trade attack on Lithuania exposes EU's powerlessness |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/china-trade-attack-on-lithuania-exposes-eu-powerlessness/ |website=politico.eu |publisher=Politico |date=16 December 2021 |access-date=27 December 2021 |archive-date=16 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216201946/https://www.politico.eu/article/china-trade-attack-on-lithuania-exposes-eu-powerlessness/ |url-status=live}}</ref> China had stopped all imports from Lithuania.<ref>{{cite news |title=China blocking EU imports with Lithuanian components over Taiwan row, says Brussels |url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/12/24/china-blocking-eu-imports-with-lithuanian-components-over-taiwan-row-says-brussels |work=Euronews |date=24 December 2021 |access-date=27 December 2021 |archive-date=27 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227134522/https://www.euronews.com/2021/12/24/china-blocking-eu-imports-with-lithuanian-components-over-taiwan-row-says-brussels |url-status=live}}</ref> According to Lithuanian intelligence agencies, in 2023 there was an increase in Chinese intelligence activity against Lithuania, including cyberespionage and increased focus on Lithuania's internal affairs and foreign policy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Intelligence warns of Chinese services' increased attention to Lithuania's internal affair |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/intelligence_warns_of_chinese_services__increased_attention_to_lithuania_s_internal_affair/ |access-date=8 March 2024 |website=www.baltictimes.com |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308033406/https://www.baltictimes.com/intelligence_warns_of_chinese_services__increased_attention_to_lithuania_s_internal_affair/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The 2023 [[NATO summit]] was held in the Lithuanian capital [[Vilnius]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lithuania to host 2023 NATO summit, first event 'of such a scale' |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1431705/lithuania-to-host-2023-nato-summit-first-event-of-such-a-scale |website=[[Lrt.lt]] |access-date=15 June 2021 |date=15 June 2021 |archive-date=25 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625161817/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1431705/lithuania-to-host-2023-nato-summit-first-event-of-such-a-scale |url-status=live}}</ref>