Following the restoration of its independence, Lithuania saw integration into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) as its primary strategic objective. To achieve this goal, several important tasks had to be carried out in the field of domestic policy: consolidating democracy, shifting from an inefficient planned economy to a free market, curbing crime, strengthening a free media, developing a human rights policy, and building and fostering civil society. Equally important was to consistently strengthen our position in international politics. The major historical, geopolitical goal of international recognition and Euro-Atlantic integration was pursued with determination and consistency while gaining increasing confidence.
On 29 March 2004, Lithuania became a full-fledged member of NATO. On the same day, F-16 fighter jets of the Royal Belgian Air Force landed in Šiauliai and started the NATO Air Policing mission. Lithuania joined the EU on 1 May 2004. Since then, Lithuanian passports bear the words “European Union”.
Lithuania’s membership of NATO and EU has fundamentally changed the historical and geopolitical conditions that shaped Lithuania’s destiny for centuries, as well as our self-perception. We understand that Lithuania’s membership in these organisations is a guarantee of our security and growth, as well as a responsibility to make and implement decisions on our own and together with our allies to ensure national and collective security and economic prosperity. Today, more than 30 allies and partners share Lithuania’s interest in political and economic stability and geopolitical security, and together with its allies and partners, Lithuania is contributing to the realisation of these crucial Euro-Atlantic objectives.
NATO and EU membership has not only contributed significantly to strengthening the country’s security but has also created the conditions for the country’s rapid economic growth and resilience to external threats. Flexible, fast and smart – that is how foreign investors describe the Lithuanian economy. Our country is like a good start-up, ready to create and develop with the world. Adapting quickly to global changes, Lithuania is the perfect place to develop innovations in financial technology, life sciences, software and other fields. Global players – companies and talents – come to Lithuania to join us in creating the solutions of the future that will change the lives of millions of people.
The 20th anniversary of being part of NATO and the EU is a great opportunity to look back and take stock of the path our country and society have taken: what we have gained from our cooperation with our allies, what we have been able to give to them, and to reflect on the links between Lithuanian, European and Euro-Atlantic identity.
The sense of strong growth, stability and security that comes from twenty years of NATO and EU membership allows all of us to contribute to the breakthrough we are living together. We can feel that we are the creators of the future and that we can enjoy personal and national achievements. We can cope more easily with the challenges our country and we face when we know our security and stability is our responsibility.
20 years of NATO and EU membership is a solid foundation from which Lithuania can build on and move upwards, to achieve more, to see the big picture and to contribute to it. As we mark these important anniversaries, we also keep in mind an important question, which is worth considering: how we will continue to build a secure and prosperous future with our NATO and EU allies, based on shared democratic values?
EVENTS CALENDAR
02/03/2024
14:00
Exhibition „TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG“
- Open until 11/05/2024
- Vytautas the Great War Museum, Kaunas
21–22/03/2024
- Vilnius Town Hall
27/03/2024
13:00
Award ceremony for the winners of the We Are NATO, Essay Contest for School Students
- Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Vilnius
27/03/2024
Exbition „20th anniversary of Lithuania’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)“
- Visitor Centre of the Seimas, Vilnius
29/03/2024
12:00
Ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of Lithuania’s membership of NATO
- Simonas Daukantas Square, Vilnius
29/03/2024
Exhibition “MIGHTY WHEN UNITED”
- Open until 29/09/2024
- Outdoor exhibition near Kaunas Castle, Kaunas City Museum
05/04/2024
16:00
Cultural-historical programme „M52 SŪDUVIS. MISSION: SAFE BALTIC SEA“
- Open until 31/12/2024
- Lithuanian Sea Museum, Klaipėda
06/04/2024
10:00
Interactive NATO Exhibition “NOVEMBER. ALPHA. TANGO. OSCAR.”
Open door day with discussions and static display of NATO’s military equipment
- Open from 29/03/2024 to 31/12/2024
- Energy and Technology Museum, Vilnius
- Interesting facts
13/04/2024
„RUNWAY RUN“ running event on the runway of the Lithuanian Air Force airbase used by NATO aircrafts
- Šiauliai Air Base
We are NATO 20
- 29 March 2004 Lithuania joins NATO. On the same day, at 16.46, fighter jets “F-16” of the NATO ally Belgium Air Force lands in Šiauliai and the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission is launched. Since then, Šiauliai Air Base has been rapidly developing as the main base from which NATO’s mission in the Baltics is conducted.
- Since 2004 Lithuania has continued its participation in NATO operations and missions (Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.) as an ally.
- 2004 Lithuania attends the NATO Summit in Istanbul for the first time as a full member of NATO.
- 2005 Lithuania takes the lead of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Ghor Province, Afghanistan, a mission that was completed in 2013. This is Lithuania’s largest and the first stand-alone military mission in the country, with a total of more than 2,500 Lithuanian troops deployed.
- 2008 Meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence in Vilnius, Lithuania, attended by representatives from more than 40 countries.
- 2012 NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (ENSECCOE) was established in Lithuania.
- 2014 Following the Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Allied air, land and sea forces reinforced in Lithuania as part of the implementation of the assurance measures adopted at the NATO Summit in Wales.
- 2015 NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) starts operations in Vilnius.
- 2017 Following the NATO Summit in Warsaw, which decides to deploy a NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Groups in the Baltic States and Poland, the German-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group (eFP BGLTU) is deployed in Lithuania.
- 2018 Lithuania reaches NATO’s recommended target of 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for defence spending.
- 2022 The NATO Summit in Madrid decides to substantially reinforce NATO’s collective defence and to increase Forward Presence Battlegroups (FPBs) to the size of a brigade.
- 11-12 July 2023 The NATO Vilnius Summit is held.
- It is the largest NATO Summit ever held in Lithuania, a meeting of Heads of State and Government, attended by 39 foreign delegations from around the world.
- The Summit endorses new NATO defence plans and a rotational air defence model.
- Germany decides to deploy a brigade in Lithuania on a permanent basis.
- The NATO-Ukraine Council is established and meets for the first time in Vilnius in the presence of President Volodymyr Zelensky
- 2023 89% of Lithuania’s population favours Lithuania’s membership of NATO, the highest rating in the last five years.
- 2023 Defence budget constituting 2.75% of GDP for 2024 approved, including the Solidarity contribution. Most of the funding will go to strengthening of the capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
