Expert says Lithuania’s concessions to Washington are not democratic norm

LRT, citing Politico, reported that the US administration pressured Lithuanian, EU and Canadian diplomats to withdraw from a Vilnius conference on disinformation after its programme described the United States as a potential source of foreign information manipulation.

The #Disinfo2026 conference was scheduled to run on Wednesday and Thursday. Its programme included a session titled “The US as an FIMI threat: recognise, adapt, resist” and another on how the anti-disinformation community responds to pressure from the US government. FIMI refers to foreign information manipulation and interference.

Canada and Lithuania asked organisers on Monday to remove their ministries’ logos from conference materials, according to a participant. The European External Action Service, the EU’s diplomatic service, followed on Tuesday. The three organisations were removed from the official programme, and their logos were covered on conference displays. France remained the only main sponsor.

The US State Department said it could not comment on details of diplomatic discussions, but said it was unsurprising that countries distanced themselves from a conference that labelled the US a FIMI threat.

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry and the European External Action Service said they withdrew because parts of the programme did not reflect their official positions, but did not specify which positions. LRT said it had asked the ministry for clarification.

Social Democrat Remigijus Motuzas, chair of the Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee, said Lithuania had no reason to view the US as a source of disinformation. He said Lithuania primarily understood disinformation at this stage as activity carried out by Russia, which was probably the main reason it gave up its sponsor status.

Conservative lawmaker Audronius Ažubalis said even democratic countries distort information to serve their interests. He said disinformation can weaken democracy, polarise society and divide geopolitical alliances, while also warning that disinformation researchers may be biased. He said Lithuania was right not to support such a strong characterisation of the US.

Viktoras Daukšas, head of the non-profit Debunk EU and a conference participant, criticised the withdrawal of support.