New vision of Lithuania's foreign policy

ENCurrent Lithuanian foreign policy can be conditionally divided into three main directions: participation in so-called anti-terrorist coalition, NATO and the EU affairs, and support for the development of democracy to the East. In essence this type of policy is not new, but just since 2004 it has been purposefully pursued. However, after two years it is not clear whether foreign policy directions are justified, and whether Lithuanian foreign policy increases security of the state, its prestige and, finally, whether it serves national interests. Anyway, up to the year 2004 none of these questions have been addressed more seriously. Hence, there are reasons to consider what has changed in substance since 2004, what elements of a new policy are alarming, and which elements should be continued. Generally there is a need for such consideration in Lithuania. Up to 2004 everything was comparatively simple because in principle foreign policy was oriented towards the integration into the EU and NATO. Strategically it was perceived as the integration into a single democratic world of the West, a common military, political, economic and cultural space. However, in terms of political practice it mostly meant orientation towards the United States, since in the past decade was realised that, first and foremost, membership in NATO depended on the US. That is why the membership in NATO was supposed to become a precondition for the EU membership [p. 133].