Lithuania forming new diplomatic relationships, but hurdles remain

Lithuania currently has diplomatic relationships with 181 countries around the world. Lithuania has not formed diplomatic relationships with 14 countries around the world, and most of them are found in Africa.

“Lithuania has anticipated forming diplomatic relationships with all of these countries, and the Seimas and government have already accepted the appropriate decisions for almost all of them, except for the Central African Republic. However, forming diplomatic relationships is a two-party action. The other country also has to make the same decision, which is why this procedure often takes time,” said public relations representatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the ministry, official invitations to begin diplomatic relationship formation procedures have been sent to these countries. Some of the countries have not responded, while the preparation of documents has begun with others. In some cases, the documents have already been prepared and are simply waiting for an opportunity to sign them.

Audronius Ažubalis, the deputy chairman of the Seimas committee on foreign affairs, does not believe that Lithuania needs to form diplomatic relationships with all countries. He still believes that our country made a big mistake when it formed a diplomatic relationship with Cuba at the end of 2013.