Budrys: Lithuania seeks trusted US partnership on secure supply chains

Lithuania is ready to strengthen cooperation with the United States on critical minerals and plans to join the Pax Silica declaration, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said, according to LRT.

Budrys made the remarks in Washington during a meeting with David Copley, the US National Security Council’s senior director for global supply chains. They discussed critical minerals, technology supply chains and economic security.

“Lithuania seeks to be a trusted US partner in creating resilient and secure supply chains,” Budrys said in a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Saturday. He said there was significant potential to expand cooperation in critical minerals, advanced technologies and semiconductors, which are essential to economic security and strengthening defence capabilities.

Budrys said cooperation among like-minded partners should cover the entire technology value chain, from critical raw materials and energy to semiconductors, advanced technologies and artificial intelligence. He added that partners should work more closely and invest jointly in innovation, science and industrial development.

Earlier this week, Budrys and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a bilateral framework agreement on cooperation in critical minerals. Lithuania aims to contribute expertise in high-tech manufacturing, advanced technologies, critical materials processing and logistics.

Poland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and other countries have already signed similar agreements with the United States. The European Union signed a corresponding memorandum with Washington in April.