Politologist says meeting between Vėgėlė, Jankūnas, Gražulis and Coale harms Lithuania’s reputation
Politologist Tomas Janeliūnas has criticised a meeting between Lithuanian parliamentarians and a senior U.S. envoy, saying it undermines the country’s reputation.
Speaking to ELTA, Janeliūnas said the March 20 meeting between Seimas members Ignas Vėgėlė and Rimantas Jonas Jankūnas, MEP Petras Gražulis and U.S. Special Envoy for Belarus John Coale did “no favours” for Lithuania’s international standing.
“While such a meeting does not help Lithuania’s reputation, harsh restrictions cannot be imposed to prevent parliamentarians from meeting foreign politicians or ministers,” he said.
Janeliūnas argued that diplomacy is increasingly accessible, with more actors entering a sphere once reserved for official institutions. He suggested that some politicians seek attention by breaking conventional rules.
“There is no longer a strict set of rules, and politicians who prioritise attention exploit this to gain visibility, sometimes bending established norms,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Vilnius confirmed the meeting was initiated by the Lithuanian politicians, who had nominated former President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. According to the embassy, Coale agreed to a brief conversation to thank them for their support.
Janeliūnas noted that U.S. envoys, particularly special envoys who are not traditional diplomats, often lack detailed knowledge of local political contexts. This can lead to meetings with figures who do not represent state interests or align with official foreign policy.
“Special envoys frequently lack broader context—especially locally—about who holds influence in Lithuania, what tone is being set, and what internal tensions exist,” he said, adding that such oversights are common in the Trump administration.
He distinguished between mainstream opposition parties and more extreme figures, suggesting that some seek foreign recognition. “One thing is official opposition parties; another is radical figures—especially those with criminal records—who seek access, contacts and recognition abroad,” he said.
Janeliūnas also highlighted that the Trump administration does not shy away from engaging with politicians holding radical views, noting that such figures exist within Trump’s own team.
“This reflects the broader Trump administration and ‘Make America Great Again’ approach to radical forces in Europe, particularly eurosceptic parties,” he said.
“Support for figures like Viktor Orbán or Brexit advocates stems from a negative view of the European Union within parts of the Trump administration.”