Seimas marks US Independence Day by calling it Lithuania’s most important defense ally

The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, in which it describes the United States as Lithuania’s most important defense ally, LRT reports.

The resolution states that “the Seimas emphasizes that the US remains Lithuania’s most important defense ally, and that a strong transatlantic link is a fundamental prerequisite for European security.”

The document also expresses gratitude for the “continuous presence of US troops in Lithuania,” calling American soldiers an irreplaceable element of deterrence in the Baltic region and crucial for the security of the entire transatlantic space. Over 1,000 US troops completed their rotation in Lithuania this summer, departing as Washington reviews its force deployment in Europe.

Emanuelis Zingeris, a conservative member of the Foreign Affairs Committee who presented the resolution, said: “We are marking not only the 250th anniversary of US independence but also America’s contribution to our statehood.”

The resolution further thanks the US for “five decades of policy not recognizing the forced incorporation of the Baltic states into the Soviet Union” and highlights that the US Declaration of Independence “serves as a moral compass when discussing fundamental rights and freedoms.”

The Seimas also acknowledges that “a free and undivided Europe is the result of consistent US support for the struggle of enslaved nations for freedom.”