New Delhi

India and Lithuania on Friday reviewed their expanding bilateral engagement as Secretary (West) Ambassador Sibi George held talks with Lithuania’s Political Director at the Foreign Ministry, Laimonas Talat-Kelpsa.

During the meeting, both sides examined the full spectrum of India-Lithuania relations and exchanged perspectives on regional and global developments of shared concern. Discussions also touched upon growing trade engagement and emerging cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence.

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry highlighted the India-EU Free Trade Agreement as a landmark development, noting its potential to significantly enhance economic cooperation and commercial exchanges between India and European Union member states, including Lithuania.

Confirming the engagement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X that the two officials reviewed bilateral ties in detail and shared views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

The interaction reflects the steady deepening of relations between New Delhi and Vilnius, particularly within the broader framework of India-EU cooperation. The meeting took place alongside the India-EU Forum and comes amid sustained diplomatic outreach by India aimed at expanding its engagement in Central and Eastern Europe.

Lithuania’s recent efforts to reduce economic dependence on China have positioned it as a strong proponent of closer India-EU relations, with New Delhi increasingly viewed as a key partner for trade diversification and technological collaboration.

India-Lithuania relations have evolved gradually since India recognised Lithuania as an independent nation on September 7, 1991, shortly after the Baltic state regained sovereignty along with Latvia and Estonia. Formal diplomatic ties were established on February 25, 1992, providing the foundation for ongoing political engagement.

One of the earliest high-level interactions occurred in June 1992, when then Indian Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao met Vytautas Landsbergis, Lithuania’s first Head of State after independence, on the sidelines of the Rio Summit. The meeting marked the beginning of sustained political dialogue between the two countries.

Over time, diplomatic engagement has expanded. Lithuania opened its embassy in New Delhi on July 1, 2008, strengthening its institutional presence in India. It has also set up honorary consulates in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata to support outreach across major commercial and cultural centres.

India initially handled relations with Lithuania through concurrent accreditation, with the Indian Ambassador to Poland also accredited to Vilnius. To enhance its engagement, India established an honorary consulate in Vilnius in 2015.

A major milestone was reached in March 2023 with the opening of India’s resident embassy in the Lithuanian capital, underscoring the growing importance New Delhi attaches to its partnership with Lithuania.

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The latest discussions reaffirmed the commitment on both sides to sustain regular dialogue and deepen cooperation across sectors. By reviewing bilateral ties and exchanging views on global and regional issues, India and Lithuania continue to strengthen a relationship grounded in shared democratic values, mutual respect and an expanding diplomatic partnership.