Lithuania’s Landsbergis admits uncertainty over party’s direction after corruption scandal
Wednesday 29th April 2026 on 20:45 in
Lithuania
Former foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has said he cannot “precisely understand” where Lithuania’s conservative Homeland Union party is heading after one of its members admitted taking a €20,000 bribe, national broadcaster LRT reported Wednesday.
Speaking on LRT’s *Dienos tema* program, Landsbergis—now a visiting scholar at Stanford University and member of the Munich Security Conference advisory board—called for the party to “distance itself as quickly as possible by all available means,” adding that mere suspension of membership would not suffice.
His comments follow revelations that Kazys Starkevičius, a former agriculture minister and Homeland Union member, received the cash bribe last year.
Landsbergis also addressed broader geopolitical tensions, questioning whether Western unity still holds amid shifting U.S. politics. While he praised Britain’s King Charles III for publicly advocating NATO solidarity and Ukraine support during his U.S. visit, he doubted such appeals could sway former President Donald Trump, whose long-standing skepticism toward European alliances remains unchanged.
“The reality we must prepare for is one where the U.S. may no longer see Europe as a priority,” Landsbergis warned, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin could exploit perceived cracks in NATO’s Article 5 collective defense commitments. He cited Trump’s repeated praise for Russia and criticism of Ukraine as signals that may embolden Moscow to test Western resolve.
Lithuania has already begun adapting, Landsbergis said, pointing to plans for a full German brigade deployment by 2027 as a response to the evolving security landscape. “As some deterrence factors weaken or change, we’re trying to replace them with others,” he explained.
When asked whether the West still functions as a unified bloc, Landsbergis highlighted Ukraine and Iran as key tests but noted the U.S. appears increasingly prepared to act unilaterally, even without allies—marking a potential shift from past conflicts like the Iraq War.