The President met with the King of Sweden

President Gitanas Nausėda and First Lady Diana Nausėdienė met with King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden on Monday.

The President noted that this was his second meeting with the King of Sweden within two weeks, which once again confirms the excellent relations between Lithuania and Sweden and the close bilateral cooperation that must continue to be strengthened.

The meeting covered cooperation between Lithuania and Sweden in security and defense, energy security, protection of critical infrastructure, resilience, the economy, and other fields. The President emphasized that a strong Nordic-Baltic partnership is the foundation of regional security.

Gitanas Nausėda noted that the security of the Baltic states is inseparable from the security of the Nordic countries. The President also drew attention to hybrid threats posed by Russia and Belarus, including the instrumentalization of illegal migration and incidents involving smuggled balloons that pose a danger to civil aviation.

According to the President, in order to ensure regional security, it is necessary to further strengthen the defense of NATO's eastern flank, maintain a strong transatlantic bond, and continue comprehensive support for Ukraine. "Events in the Middle East must not divert our attention from Ukraine. Today, Ukraine is fighting not only for its own future but for the future of all of Europe," the President said during the meeting.

Gitanas Nausėda emphasized that Sweden is a strategic economic partner of Lithuania and one of the largest investors in the country. "Sweden is one of Lithuania's most important economic partners and investors. We value close business ties and see significant potential to further strengthen cooperation in innovation, energy, and other strategic areas," the President said.

The meeting also addressed the close historical and cultural ties between Lithuania and Sweden. According to the head of state, the Baltic Sea has long connected both nations through trade, culture, and people-to-people contacts, while today Lithuania and Sweden are united by a shared Nordic-Baltic identity and common strategic interests.

The President also highlighted the active role of the Lithuanian community in Sweden in fostering close ties between the two countries. "Our countries are bound not only by strategic interests but also by strong people-to-people and cultural ties," he said.

The President thanked the King and Queen for their contribution to strengthening relations between the people of Lithuania and Sweden and for the close cooperation between the two countries.