Lithuanian president: Conflict with Iran is also our war
Gitanas Nausėda voiced support for US actions against Iran and noted the crisis affects Lithuania's security interests; Lithuania is sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda expressed solidarity with the United States on Wednesday after an exchange of strikes between Washington and Tehran, emphasizing that the conflict also touches Lithuania's national security interests.
Nausėda acknowledged that Lithuania is concerned about further escalation in the Middle East but simultaneously supports efforts to prevent Iran's potential development of nuclear weapons. “We are, of course, concerned about the escalation of the crisis in the Middle East, but we understand that we must address the issues related to the possible development of nuclear weapons in Iran. Therefore, my country stands in solidarity with the US. It is quite clear that this is our conflict, our war as well, and we must remain united if we expect solidarity from the United States,” Nausėda said.
He noted that following a decision by the Lithuanian National Defense Council in early June, the Seimas authorized the deployment of up to 40 Lithuanian military personnel and civilian defense staff to participate in international operations aimed at restoring navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US struck over 80 targets in Iran on Tuesday evening in response to a series of Iranian attacks on commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran retaliated on Wednesday with attacks on US assets in the Middle East. Subsequently, President Donald Trump declared that a memorandum of understanding with Iran, which had signified an end to hostilities, was no longer in effect.
