Strong transatlantic partnership: Lithuania strengthens energy security through cooperation with the US

Lithuania continues to strengthen its Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation with the United States (US) in order to ensure long-term gas supply security, infrastructure resilience, and regional energy independence. To achieve these goals, on February 23-24, Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, the Minister of Energy, met with partners in Washington to discuss how to further strengthen the US-Lithuania liquefied natural gas (LNG) partnership, increase the resilience of critical infrastructure, and continue support for Ukraine.

On February 23, the Minister met with Chris Wright, the Secretary for the US Department of Energy, Christopher W. Smith, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, responsible for Northern European, Baltic, and Arctic security, as well as Central and Eastern Europe, with whom he emphasized the inseparability of energy and national security. The meeting participants discussed that a country's resilience is determined by a reliable, affordable, and secure energy supply, and therefore it is necessary to further strengthen transatlantic cooperation, diversify energy supply sources, and increase the protection of critical energy infrastructure. The Minister also met with representatives of US liquefied natural gas supply companies and energy think tanks.

During his visit to Washington, the Minister also attended a meeting with Mark W. Menezes, the President and CEO of the United States Energy Association (USEA), and the event organized by LNG Allies to mark the 10th anniversary of the first US LNG shipment to Europe.

Over the past decade, the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation has become one of the cornerstones of European energy security. Lithuania was one of the first European Union countries to import LNG from the US. The share of US gas at the FSRU Independence has grown steadily, reaching 70% in 2025. This shows that US gas is competitive in the market and contributes significantly to stable and reliable supplies in the Baltic region.

"Over the past decade, Lithuania has achieved 100% independence from Russian gas - a historic achievement made possible by a resolved decision. 10 years of cooperation with the US have yielded clear results - a diversified, competitive, and secure gas market. The name of the FSRU Independence, the main component of the Klaipėda LNG terminal, is not just a symbol today, but a reality. Our terminal not only ensures gas supplies to the Baltic countries, but also contributes to Ukraine's energy independence. Today, an LNG carrier from Freeport (US) delivered gas for Ukraine via the FSRU Independence. This demonstrates not only the symbolic significance of this transatlantic partnership, but also the assistance it provides to Ukraine, which now needs alternative gas supplies," says the Minister.

On February 24, Ž. Vaičiūnas attended the high-level Transatlantic Summit on Security of Gas Supply hosted by the White House and took part in the ministerial dialogue "Sustainable Transatlantic Partnership", which was also attended by Chris Wright, the Secretary for the US Department of Energy, and Doug Burgum, the Secretary of the US Department of the Interior. The meeting emphasized the importance of long-term LNG supply agreements in ensuring gas supply stability and stable prices in the region.

Another important topic of discussion was the Amber Gas Corridor - a regional initiative launched by Lithuania, which allows for the efficient use of the infrastructure of LNG terminals, gas storage facilities, and cross-border gas interconnections in the Baltic States, Poland, and Finland. This corridor enables reliable gas supplies to Ukraine and other Central and Eastern European countries, strengthens the regional market integration, and increases energy resilience.

During the Transatlantic Summit on Security of Gas Supply, the Secretary for the US Department of Energy and the Secretary of the US Department of the Interior, together with the ministers of energy of twelve European countries, including Lithuania, signed a joint statement on enhancing security of natural gas supply to Central and Eastern Europe, committing to strengthening EU's energy security, diversifying energy supply sources by moving away from the EU energy imports from Russia, ensuring transparent and competitive access to gas infrastructure, removing regulatory barriers, and promoting US-European cooperation in the field of energy. It also provides for the integration of Ukrainian gas storage facilities into the regional market as strategic storage infrastructure.

"The Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation is not just about economic cooperation-it is a strategic choice that strengthens the security of Lithuania, the region, and Europe as a whole. Today, energy independence is the foundation of national security," says the Minister of Energy.

The discussions also covered the broader geopolitical context, including the EU's goal of completely phasing out of Russian gas imports by 2027. The Minister also emphasized the need to strengthen the protection of critical energy infrastructure, given the growing hybrid, cyber, and physical threats to energy facilities.