LRT English Newsletter – April 11, 2025.
Two seemingly related pieces of news – the EU provided funding for the Lithuanian border guards a few years ago to purchase several helicopters, one of which will now escort Russian transit trains. The other news – Brussels said no to funding a drone wall project.
First, what is the Russian transit train? It involved a scheme agreed between the EU and Moscow when Lithuania joined the bloc, basically allowing Russia to access its Kaliningrad exclave via a train line. The Kremin wanted more, ie an entire military corridor (we covered that story here), but the compromise was the transit line. But after 2014 and 2022, it became a source of anxiety for Lithuania. Once, it halted atop the Kaunas' dam, while another time security forces were deployed at the Vilnius train station when the transit train had a suspiciously high number of conscript-aged men. Anyway, the helicopter will be used to escort the train and monitor its route, as well as to react – if necessary.
Now, the drone wall. The Baltic states want to use drones for continuous monitoring of the border with Belarus and Russia. For that to happen, however, more money is needed. Nevertheless, officials said other sources of funding would be sought for this project, including government funds.
US TO WITHDRAW (SOME) TROOPS?
There is an ongoing back-and-forth in the media about whether the United States will pull its troops from Eastern Europe, including the Baltic states. Lithuanian officials are now mostly involved in calming the fears, saying there are no signs of that happening yet. But some worrying signals are coming from the other side of the Atlantic – even if there is no clear stance on the issue in Washington itself (bar for the executive order bulldozer).
LITHUANIAN SOLDIER KILLED IN UKRAINE
The body of a second Lithuanian volunteer soldier killed in Ukraine has been pulled from the battlefield. Why has it taken almost a month? Well, it all comes down to drone warfare – there are so many of them in the sky that even a single-foot soldier trying to reach a dugout, a trench or walk along the road is immediately targeted. Previous attempts to recover the body ended in injuries. So, Tomas Valentėlis is finally going home. Read more here.
PAUSING ASYLUM
Lithuania is moving to adopt a legal framework that would allow temporarily halting asylum claims, officials announced this week, citing the examples of Poland and Finland. The measure would be used if, for example, there were attacks on the border guards, the interior minister said.
In other migration news, Lithuania is moving ahead to ramp up sanctions on Belarusian and Russian nationals, including enacting penalties (like losing their temporary residency status) for frequent return trips home. Read more here.
DEFENCE UPDATES
Lithuania is buying two fast attack boats from Finland, which will give the Navy more options in its coastal waters and inland waterways. The country’s officials are also looking for where to base another military training area – a place near the Suwalki Gap could be an answer. Meanwhile, ministries have been instructed to cut 5 percent from its budget to help fund the military. Also – here’s the new intelligence chief.
But is the society itself doing enough to get ready – just in case? Well, 70 percent of respondents say they are feeling unprepared for war. But can you ever really be?
TARIFF GALORE
So the big news – globally – has been the US tariff push. Without going too deep into it, here’s the update on Lithuania’s end:
– Businesses are asking for a halt in proposed tax reforms, fearing a trade war fallout.
– Vilnius has urged to avoid a knee-jerk reaction.
– And here are Lithuania’s top 10 exports to the US.
In other economic news:
– Revolut was fined 3.5 million euros in Lithuania for breaching anti-money laundering rules.
– US fintech giant Robinhood is set to enter Lithuania.
– Banks are not planning to flee Lithuania due to tax reforms, the prime minister said.
EDITOR’S PICKS:
– As boating advocates push to open the Neris River route between Vilnius and Kaunas, scientists are raising alarms about the potential environmental consequences.
– After failing to legalise same-sex partnerships while in government, the opposition is now looking at a plan B.
– People are unhappy about a Russian singer coming to Vilnius.
– Someone tried to smuggle in a 17th-century bell. It could have been looted from Ukraine.
– What’s it like to be a Buddhist nun in Lithuania?
– Estonia’s defence minister didn’t sugarcoat his words about what’s next for the Baltic states.
– Why are Lithuanian politicians still beefing with Warsaw?
– And here’s a cute bear.
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Written by Benas Gerdžiūnas
Edited by Justinas Šuliokas
