Minister Budrys met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent: Severe sanctions against Russia are a language of force that it understands

On 10 November in Washington, D.C., the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, met with the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States (U.S.), Scott Bessent.

The meeting focused on Lithuania's actions to strengthen the country's economic resilience in the current geopolitical environment, continued economic, energy, and security cooperation between Lithuania and the U.S., sanctions against Russia, Belarus, and support for Ukraine.

In the meeting, special attention was dedicated to Russia's war against Ukraine and the coordination of sanctions policy. The head of Lithuania's diplomacy congratulated the U.S. on tough sanctions against Russian energy giants, noting that this was the language of force that the aggressor Russia understood. Budrys discussed with the U.S. Treasury Secretary further steps to ensure that sanctions against Russia and Belarus remained effective, that circumvention was avoided, and that pressure on aggressor regimes was consistently stepped up.

"Lithuania acts decisively in enhancing its security and economic resilience and remains an active sanctions policy-maker in the European Union. The partnership with the United States is crucial to ending the war against Ukraine, ensuring responsibility towards the aggressor, Russia, and planning the reconstruction of Ukraine," said Minister Kęstutis Budrys.

Minister Budrys stressed that Lithuania was consistently boosting its national and regional security by increasing defence spending, which would reach 5.38% of GDP next year, promoting investment in the defence industry and new technologies, and providing the best training conditions for the U.S. troops.

Budrys also highlighted Lithuania's success in securing energy independence, including cooperation with the U.S. on supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) and developing small modular reactors (SMRs): "Lithuania, the first country in Europe to fully end its dependency on Russia's energy resources, has demonstrated by example that this is possible. Zero Russian oil and gas imports means for us the chosen security and the opportunity to cooperate even more closely with the U.S., increasing American gas imports, and expanding cooperation in other energy areas."