Lithuania to decide on China relations in autumn, says Sinkevičius

Lithuania’s prime ministerial candidate Mindaugas Sinkevičius has said decisions on the country’s relations with China will be made in the autumn, with several scenarios already prepared, LRT reports.

Speaking on LRT Television’s programme Savaitė, Sinkevičius said he had no criticism of acting Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys but stressed that, in forming a cabinet, a prime minister must trust their team.

“You don’t invite people into a team who think they can act against you, or behind your back, or independently but not as part of the team,” he said.

On the question of why relations with China had not been normalised over the past two years, Sinkevičius said that “homework” had been done and several scenarios prepared for how the state should act. He added that a final decision would likely be reached by autumn.

“The question is whether there will be a desire to act in some way, or whether the situation will remain unchanged,” he said.

Sinkevičius also noted that the issue of US troop rotations in Lithuania was more sensitive and concerning to him than the current discussions on China.

Asked whether there was tension between him and Budrys, Sinkevičius denied any personal conflict but reiterated that a prime minister must trust their cabinet members and their competence.

He also addressed speculation about Budrys’s potential presidential ambitions, saying that if such intentions existed, the question would be whether the minister’s work was a genuine effort for the state or a platform for higher political goals.