Congressional Taiwan Caucus Co-Chairs Urge Lithuanian Leaders to Continue Bold Support for Taiwan in Joint Letter

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Ami Bera (D-CA), Andy Barr (R-KY), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus sent a joint letter to the Honorable Mindaugas Sinkevičius, Prime Minister of Lithuania; Honorable Gitanas Nausėda, President of Lithuania; Honorable Juozas Olekas, Speaker of the Seimas; Honorable Kęstutis Budrys, Foreign Minister; and Honorable Robertas Kaunas, Defense Minister, requesting that Lithuania continues its courageous path of maintaining relations with Taiwan.

A PDF of the letter can be found here, or read the full text below: 

Honorable Leaders of Lithuania,  

As co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, we highly value Lithuania’s friendship and steadfast support for freedom across the globe.  

Since Lithuania overturned communist rule, our countries have stood together to defend freedom and democracy in Europe, the Western Hemisphere, and the Indo-Pacific. In fact, in the face of the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) bullying and coercion, our countries have stood together to support a free and democratic Taiwan.  

We welcomed Lithuania’s decision in 2022 to withdraw from 17+1 format, an organization which was created by the PRC to divide the transatlantic alliance. Lithuania also demonstrated remarkable leadership in convincing other Baltic states to do the same. We appreciate that Lithuania has always been a strong leader among the European Union countries in opposing autocratic influences, inviting Taiwan to open its office under the name of Taiwanese Representative Office in 2021.  

While we understand that the PRC continues to bully countries for maintaining any relationship with Taiwan, we respectfully urge you to consider the importance of maintaining relationships with those that share our democratic values. the PRC also continues to enable Russia’s war against Ukraine, contrary to European interests.  

For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to continue the courageous path of maintaining your substantive relationship with Taiwan, which has been a trusted and reliable partner of our respective countries for decades.   

Sincerely, 

Mario Diaz-Balart

Member of Congress

Ami Bera 

Member of Congress

Andy Barr 

Member of Congress

Greg Stanton

Member of Congress