Mindaugas Sinkevičius expresses disappointment in Budrys’ proactivity on US troops issue
Proposed prime minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius has repeatedly expressed doubts about the work of Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, LRT reports.
In an interview with ELTA, Sinkevičius said politicians in power often face resistance when trying to implement their promises, with excuses and delays preventing progress. He noted that while discussions may sound reasonable, tangible results are often lacking.
President Gitanas Nausėda previously stated that Budrys’ future in the role would depend on his efforts to normalise relations with China and implement agreements with Taiwan. However, Sinkevičius emphasised that a more pressing issue is the rotation of US troops in Lithuania.
On this matter, Sinkevičius said he was surprised and disappointed by Budrys’ lack of proactivity. “My impression is that our strategy on this issue is to hope that everything will be fine. I am not a supporter of such a strategy. I would prefer our top foreign policy officials to be in Washington, the Pentagon, walking around Congress and the Senate, engaging in lobbying, explaining the situation here,” he stated.
Sinkevičius added that the president’s opinion would be crucial in forming the government, though no final decisions have been made. He also acknowledged that experienced diplomats must be evaluated carefully, noting that Lithuania does not have the luxury of multiple ready replacements.
Political circles have speculated that Deividas Matulionis, the president’s chief advisor, could replace Budrys at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sinkevičius described Matulionis’ candidacy as worth considering but noted that discussions may not lead to any immediate changes.
When asked about his return to central government, Sinkevičius clarified that it was not due to unforeseen circumstances (force majeure) but rather a political decision following a coalition reshuffle. As the author of the proposed changes, he felt compelled to implement them himself.