Lithuanian Diplomats Discuss the Baltic Region’s Geopolitical Challenges and Energy Independence from Russia in Fireside Chat 

The European Studies Council’s Baltic Studies program hosted the conversation with the  Ambassador of Lithuania to the U.S. and Consul General of Lithuania in New York

Earlier this month, the MacMillan Center’s Baltic Studies program welcomed Audra Plepytė the Ambassador of Lithuania to the U.S. and Dovydas Špokauskas, Consul General of Lithuania in New York to Luce Hall for a fireside chat with the Yale community. The two shared their thoughts on Lithuania-U.S. relations, energy independence and security, and Lithuania’s role in regional and global issues.

“Lithuania, like the other Baltic countries, is important to the MacMillan Center,” said Dr. Bradley Woodworth, Program Manager of Baltic Studies at Yale and discussion moderator. He continued, “Events like this that highlight the situation of the Baltic countries are ever so important now when the security architecture of Europe is changing. All three have borders with Russia or Belarus, and fear that Russia could make incursions into their states.”

Although small with a population of almost three million, Lithuania occupies a strategic position within a broader geopolitical contest between the United States, Russia, and the world. As such, Lithuania is looking to advance its economic diplomacy through new technology projects and working toward shaping EU opinion toward China. And the presence of American companies such as Thermo Fisher and Western Union on Lithuanian soil provides mutual business opportunities for the two countries. 

“We don’t have a lot [of people], but they are really educated, and they are capable ones,” said Špokauskas. “So, the only we can go further is through technology.” 

The Baltic state’s history also frames its relations with Russia, muddied today by a desire to shift from energy dependence, as well as Russia’s aggression toward neighboring Baltic states. Plepytė said her country was once wholly dependent on Russia for its natural gas, but in 2014, Lithuania completely suspended Russian natural gas imports.

More recently, the country placed sanctions against Russia and Belarus, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions are in place until 2026.

“Sanctions are one of the mains instruments to influence Russia and Putin,” said Plepytė, who emphasized the need to maintain the restrictions. “[Lithuania] should ensure that Russia is not capable of any further invasions, either in Ukraine or any other country in the region.”

Špokauskas believes the shared history among the region’s countries has solidified its support for Ukraine.

“Lithuanians have a tendency to side with the oppressed,” he said. “The culture of us being a hub of hope for [similar] countries is there. It comes from our own history, our own independence struggle, but also from our understanding. In the darkest of times, for the few and brave who want to fight, there is someone who says ‘We are with you. We understand you. We’ve been where you are.’”

Added Plepytė: “The identity of the Baltics [has] really strengthen[ed] especially within the last years. We’re a family.” 

The Yale Baltic Studies Program is an interdisciplinary forum under the MacMillan Center’s European Studies Council for the study of the Baltic Sea region, with an emphasis on the lands that comprise contemporary Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The program sponsors symposia and lectures and serves as a resource for and liaison among students and scholars whose work involves the Baltic region.