“Seeing that our partners and friends in Europe sign new contracts with China, we warn about the dangers of these contracts. (..) We are an example that it is possible to survive without Russian gas and contracts with China,” Landsbergis said at the press conference.
“Diversification, finding new partnerships, taking the path of least resistance. (..) Then the long-term returns are more sustainable and higher,” he said.
According to the Lithuanian foreign minister, the European Union’s ability to create a common strategy for China is hampered by the fact that the countries of the bloc have different interests.
“As it often happens in Europe [Savienībā]27 countries have 27 different interests. Our opponents are able to use it,” said Landsbergis.
Campbell, on the other hand, pointed out that Lithuania is the country on which China has exerted the greatest pressure when Lithuania allowed Taiwan to open a representative office in Vilnius under the name of Taiwan.
Lithuania “has shown resilience, diversified its economy, it has become stronger by interacting with other partners. We deeply admire such an action by Lithuania,” said Campbell.
The US Deputy Secretary of State emphasized that Washington is very concerned about the growing cooperation between China and Russia.
“Our team is sending a message to Europe of concern about the growing partnership between China and Russia. China’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base, its behind-the-scenes efforts to support Russia in its military objectives in Ukraine, is devastating and troubling,” Campbell said.
“It’s a network that’s getting more sophisticated, more secretive, and it’s causing us more and more anxiety,” he said.
According to Campbell, the US is encouraging its European partners to publicly express their concerns about China-Russia cooperation.
“Sometimes when there is a dialogue between a European partner and China, simply mentioning concerns and then going straight to ‘let’s sign trade agreements’ sends a mixed message,” he added.
Campbell, who has extensive diplomatic experience, is considered the architect of the current US administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
This was the third bilateral meeting between Landsberg and Campbell this year. The previous meeting took place in July, when the Lithuanian minister visited Washington.
2024-09-13 16:05:37