Key facts
- Mindaugas Sinkevicius has been approved as Lithuania's new prime minister.
- The new government pledged to maintain defense spending above 5% of GDP.
- Lithuania will continue to seek a U.S. troop presence.
- The government will continue to support Ukraine.
- Sinkevicius stated the 2021 decision to allow Taiwan to open a de-facto embassy was "maybe too brave."
- China downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania in late 2021 following the opening of the Taiwanese representative office.
Lithuania's parliament has approved Mindaugas Sinkevicius as the country's new prime minister, with his government pledging to maintain high defense spending and seek continued U.S. troop presence. Sinkevicius, however, indicated a desire to mend relations with China, stating that the 2021 decision to allow Taiwan to open a de-facto representative office was "maybe too brave."
China downgraded its diplomatic ties with Lithuania in late 2021 after the opening of the "Taiwanese" representative office, impacting trade relations. Beijing views Taiwan as its own territory. The new government's manifesto aims to "normalise" the relationship with China, seeking to return to the level of appointing ambassadors.
Sinkevicius suggested that the relationship with China could be restored without altering the Taiwanese representation, noting that the Foreign Ministry has several options. The EU has adopted an "anti-coercion instrument" to counter economic pressure from third countries on its member states.
The government also committed to keeping defense spending above 5% of GDP and continuing support for Ukraine. Sinkevicius replaces Inga Ruginiene, leading a center-left coalition that holds a slim majority in parliament.