Latest news with #Nauseda
19 hours ago
- Politics
Japan's Emperor Meets with Lithuanian President
News from Japan Society Jun 9, 2025 16:54 (JST) Tokyo, June 9 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Emperor Naruhito met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who is visiting Japan for the World Exposition in Osaka, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday. During their 25-minute meeting, Nauseda said people in his country remember Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko as well as the late Japanese diplomat Chiune Sugihara well, according to the Imperial Household Agency. The Emperor expressed gratitude to Lithuanian people for remembering them. Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko, the parents of Emperor Naruhito, visited Lithuania in 2007 during their reign. Sugihara is known for helping thousands of Jewish refugees persecuted by Nazis by issuing transit visas to Japan while stationed in Lithuania during World War II. The Emperor also introduced two "bonsai" trees grown at the palace to Nauseda, who likes the Japanese art of cultivating and shaping miniature trees in pots, according to the agency. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Call for next EU sanctions on Moscow to be like 'Molotov cocktail'
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is pushing for stronger EU sanctions against Moscow in light of Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. "Putin is turning the whole world against him and really deserves much tougher sanctions than those currently in place," the head of state of the Baltic EU and NATO country said on Lithuanian television on Tuesday. "I really hope that our colleagues in the European Union understand that the 17th package of sanctions was just a warm-up," Nauseda said. "We need to prepare an 18th package of sanctions that really resembles a Molotov cocktail." The EU imposed further sanctions against Russia last week. The 17th package of punitive measures includes further tightening of restrictions on Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" used to transport oil and oil products. An 18th package of sanctions is already being planned. Lithuania is one of Kiev's most vocal supporters on the international stage. Russia has launched massive air strikes against Ukraine in recent days. The attacks were widely condemned, including by US President Donald Trump, who threatened Russia with new sanctions and accused Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin of having gone "absolutely crazy." Nauseda said he agreed with Trump's assessment. "Those are strong words and a completely appropriate statement, because this has been clear to us for a long time," Nauseda said. Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian invasion since 2022.
Observer
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Merz vows to defend allies on Lithuania visit
VILNIUS: Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned on Thursday that Russia threatened security in Europe as he visited Lithuania to mark the official formation of Germany's first permanent overseas military unit since World War II, aimed at bolstering Nato's eastern flank. The decision to build up a 5,000-strong armoured brigade in Lithuania over the coming years came in response to Russia's full-scale war of Ukraine in 2022. "There is a threat to us all from Russia," Merz told reporters in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. The German deployment is aimed at deterring potential Russian aggression towards Lithuania and fellow Baltic countries Estonia and Latvia, former Soviet republics that have become Nato and EU members and fear they are increasingly in Moscow's crosshairs. Merz said Germany was determined to defend the Nato territory, adding: "The security of our Baltic allies is also our security." While Germany has joined multinational military missions, including in Afghanistan and Mali, a pacifist tradition stemming from its dark World War II history meant Berlin was generally reluctant to do more. The establishment of a permanent brigade overseas is an unprecedented move for the Bundeswehr, as the German armed forces are known, in the post-war era. Merz, who became chancellor this month, participated in a ceremony in the main square of Vilnius that officially marked the formation of the heavy combat unit, the 45th tank brigade, also known as the "Lithuania Brigade". The brigade, to consist of around 4,800 troops and 200 civilian Bundeswehr employees, will be gradually deployed over the coming years and should reach full operational capability by 2027. An advance party of around 400 Bundeswehr personnel are already in the country, according to the defence ministry. "Anyone who challenges Nato must know that we are prepared. Anyone who threatens any ally must know that the entire alliance will jointly defend every inch of Nato territory," Merz said. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda hailed what he called an "unbreakable force" of the alliance with Germany. "Together we will ensure that the people of Lithuania and Germany never face the ultimate test: that of war," Nauseda said. Merz, along with Nauseda and the defence ministers of Germany and Lithuania, inspected the troops, with military bands playing and hundreds of onlookers gathered to watch the ceremony. Merz, who has vowed to build up Europe's "strongest conventional army" by ramping up defence spending, will be keen to use the trip to highlight that Berlin is taking on a bigger role on the international stage amid dizzying political upheavals. US President Donald Trump has heaped pressure on fellow Nato members to increase defence spending, sparked fears about American commitment to Europe and caused shock with his overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he pushes for a Ukraine peace deal. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said last month that the Lithuanian deployment "sends a strong message of solidarity and readiness". "Germany is stepping up," he added during events to mark the 70th anniversary of Germany joining the 32-member Nato military alliance. Lithuania, with a population of 2.8 million, borders both the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Moscow's ally Belarus, and the German defence ministry considers it to be "the most endangered state on Nato's eastern flank". There have been signs of Russia ramping up hostile activities, with Moscow frequently accused of using "hybrid warfare" tactics in the Baltic Sea. This month a Russian spy plane was spotted in Belarus apparently attempting to observe a multinational Nato military exercise in Lithuania, news outlet Der Spiegel reported. But Germany's troop deployment is not without its difficulties. Some question whether the Bundeswehr, suffering from personnel and equipment shortages after years of underfunding, is prepared for what the defence ministry describes as "one of the most complex and ambitious projects" in its history. While Germany has been seeking to channel more funds to the military, new equipment will take years to order and produce. — AFP
eNCA
22-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
Merz warns of Russia threat, vows to defend NATO allies on Lithuania visit
LONDON - Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Thursday that Russia threatened security in Europe as he visited Lithuania to mark the official formation of Germany's first permanent overseas military unit since World War II, aimed at bolstering NATO's eastern flank. The decision to build up a 5,000-strong armoured brigade in Lithuania over the coming years came in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. "There is a threat to us all from Russia," Merz told reporters in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. The German deployment is aimed at deterring potential Russian aggression towards Lithuania and fellow Baltic countries Estonia and Latvia, former Soviet republics that have become NATO and EU members and fear they are increasingly in Moscow's crosshairs. Merz said Germany was determined to defend the NATO territory, adding: "The security of our Baltic allies is also our security." While Germany has joined multinational military missions, including in Afghanistan and Mali, a pacifist tradition stemming from its dark World War II history meant Berlin was generally reluctant to do more. The establishment of a permanent brigade overseas is an unprecedented move for the Bundeswehr, as the German armed forces are known, in the post-war era. Merz, who became chancellor this month, participated in a ceremony in the main square of Vilnius that officially marked the formation of the heavy combat unit, the 45th tank brigade, also known as the "Lithuania Brigade". The brigade, to consist of around 4,800 troops and 200 civilian Bundeswehr employees, will be gradually deployed over the coming years and should reach full operational capability by 2027. An advance party of around 400 Bundeswehr personnel are already in the country, according to the defence ministry. "Anyone who challenges NATO must know that we are prepared. Anyone who threatens any ally must know that the entire alliance will jointly defend every inch of NATO territory," Merz said. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda hailed what he called an "unbreakable force" of the alliance with Germany. "Together we will ensure that the people of Lithuania and Germany never face the ultimate test: that of war," Nauseda said. Merz, along with Nauseda and the defence ministers of Germany and Lithuania, inspected the troops, with military bands playing and hundreds of onlookers gathered to watch the ceremony. "For us, the war is nearby, not somewhere far away," Vytautas Masalskis, 52, told AFP in Vilnius. "People are dying, we understand why because of Russia's invasion." - Bigger role - Merz, who has vowed to build up Europe's "strongest conventional army" by ramping up defence spending, will be keen to use the trip to highlight that Berlin is taking on a bigger role on the international stage amid dizzying political upheavals. US President Donald Trump has heaped pressure on fellow NATO members to increase defence spending, sparked fears about American commitment to Europe and caused shock with his overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he pushes for a Ukraine peace deal. AFP | Petras Malukas German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said last month that the Lithuanian deployment "sends a strong message of solidarity and readiness". "Germany is stepping up," he added during events to mark the 70th anniversary of Germany joining the 32-member NATO military alliance. Lithuania, with a population of 2.8 million, borders both the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Moscow's ally Belarus, and the German defence ministry considers it to be "the most endangered state on NATO's eastern flank". - Growing hostility - There have been signs of Russia ramping up hostile activities, with Moscow frequently accused of using "hybrid warfare" tactics in the Baltic Sea. This month a Russian spy plane was spotted in Belarus apparently attempting to observe a multinational NATO military exercise in Lithuania, news outlet Der Spiegel reported. But Germany's troop deployment is not without its difficulties. AFP | Petras Malukas Some question whether the Bundeswehr, suffering from personnel and equipment shortages after years of underfunding, is prepared for what the defence ministry describes as "one of the most complex and ambitious projects" in its history. While Germany has been seeking to channel more funds to the military, new equipment will take years to order and produce. Meanwhile the Bundeswehr, which is aiming to boost its number of soldiers to 203,000 by 2031, has been struggling to recruit. Parliament in January passed a law aimed at making the military a more attractive career, including more flexible working arrangements and greater financial incentives.
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Lithuania closes airspace to Slovak and Serb leaders on route to Russia, president says
Lithuania has closed its airspace to flights carrying the Slovak and Serbian leaders to Moscow for its World War Two victory parade, President Gitanas Nauseda said on Wednesday. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic are among leaders expected to attend World War Two Victory Day commemorations in Moscow, which Russia celebrates on May 9. 'The decisions are negative,' Nauseda said in a video published by news website 15min, in response to a question on flyover permissions for the two leaders. Aircraft travelling between Russia and Europe have typically used Lithuanian airspace since European carriers were told in 2021 to avoid the shorter route through Belarus as part of punitive measures against Minsk in response to it scrambling a warplane to force the landing of a Ryanair flight. Ukrainian airspace, another shorter route, has been closed since 2022 due to the Russian invasion. Lithuania, which borders Russia and its close ally Belarus, is among the strongest supporters in the European Union and NATO of Ukraine against Russia's three-year-old invasion. Slovakia and Hungary on Wednesday condemned European Commission plans to phase out Russian gas and other energy imports, deepened their rift with Brussels over relations with Moscow. Nauseda said the ban was due to GPS disturbances in the region. He did not name possible source of the jamming, which several European countries have earlier blamed on Russia. 'Security of all people travelling through Lithuania, including leaders, is our highest priority, so we took this decision', said Nauseda.
