Key quotes from Lithuanian president’s annual address
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda delivered his seventh annual address to the Seimas on Tuesday, outlining the country’s challenges and priorities. National news agency BNS highlights ten key quotes from the speech.
On global threats, Nausėda warned: “We are stepping ever faster into a new dangerous world where peace is no longer taken for granted. Lithuania’s environment is changing rapidly, and we must change with it. We live in a world with less unity and peaceful coexistence. Narrow economic interests are becoming more pronounced. Authoritarian regimes are raising their heads more boldly, with all the consequences that entails. We live dangerously close to war.”
He noted Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression, adding: “Impressive Ukrainian achievements, to which we also contribute with our support, do not bring peace. We do not know if we ourselves will not face hostile forces testing NATO unity and cohesion in peacetime.”
Addressing hybrid threats, the president stated: “Hybrid war against Lithuania has been going on for not just years, but decades. Huge sums are consistently allocated for it. No courtesies or goodwill gestures will change this. They hate us because we dare to be free and independent. They hate us because we love our freedom and use its benefits with pride. They hate that we create our own welfare, something no autocratic regime can achieve.”
On defence spending, Nausėda said: “I believe in NATO—it is not a paper tiger. I believe in Article 5 and the resolve of our allies to contribute to Lithuania’s defence. But I believe even more that we must be strong enough to defend ourselves. This year, we are demonstrating leadership at the NATO level by allocating 5.38% of GDP to defence. I hope we will invest in our security not only until 2030 but beyond.”
He criticised political divisions, saying: “For some time now, we have seen how easily any difference of opinion becomes a reason for public ‘witch hunts.’ How quickly arguments turn into personal attacks, rude gestures, and insults. It has become difficult in the public space to admit not just a mistake, but even the possibility that ‘our side’ could be wrong and the ‘other’ not necessarily a lowly attacker. We ourselves create a Machiavellian political life where the end always justifies the means.”
Nausėda also addressed corruption, stating: “Unfortunately, in recent years, we have repeatedly seen unpleasant scandals of political corruption and unlawful enrichment, showing that as a state and society, we are still vulnerable. We are governed by greed and self-interest. We are quick to forget and betray the common good. This is a truly shameful situation, mitigated only by the knowledge that Lithuania’s law enforcement is actively and honourably doing its job.”
On the Kapčiamiestis training ground controversy, he said: “I personally ensure that the largest defence budget in Lithuania’s history is used transparently and effectively. However, looking at what happened in selecting the site for the new training ground in Kapčiamiestis, I increasingly doubt whether all politicians and Seimas members truly understand the seriousness of the situation and whether they are truly ready to stand firm in the fight for Lithuania and its security.”