Lithuania officially joins the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation

Lithuania has officially become a party to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), signing the document in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, on Friday, according to a report by LRT.

Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys signed the treaty on behalf of Lithuania. He emphasized that the agreement marks a new phase in Lithuania’s partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and creates additional opportunities to strengthen political dialogue and practical cooperation.

“Lithuania has accumulated valuable experience in synchronizing electricity networks, enhancing energy interconnectivity, and strengthening energy independence. We are ready to share our expertise in digitalizing public services, developing cybersecurity systems, and protecting critical infrastructure,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Budrys also noted that Lithuania values ASEAN as a strategic partner of the European Union and is prepared to expand cooperation in security, connectivity, sustainable development, and people-to-people ties.

Alongside Lithuania, Sweden, Poland, and Romania also joined the treaty.

The Treaty of Amity and Cooperation was originally signed in Bali on February 24, 1976, by five countries: the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. It has since been amended several times to allow non-Southeast Asian states and regional organizations to accede. Currently, there are 58 parties to the treaty, including the European Union and its member states Denmark, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France, Finland, and Germany.

Lithuania’s parliament, the Seimas, ratified the treaty on June 11, 2026.