On 20 and 21 May 2024, Andžejs Viļumsons, Under-Secretary of State and Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the meeting of the Political Directors from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic States and Nordic countries and officials of the US State Department, e-PINE (Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe), which took place in Stockholm, Sweden.
The focus of the meeting was on an unwavering and strong support for Ukraine. In this context, the Political Directors exchanged views on the upcoming Peace Summit, and also agreed on the continuation of sanctions against Russia in order to undermine its ability to carry out military aggression against Ukraine. Preparations for the NATO summit in Washington were also discussed, as well as developments regarding Russia, the Indo-Pacific, China, and Georgia. Within the framework of e-PINE, an informal meeting was also held with the leader of the Belarusian democratic movement, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
Background information
The e-PINE initiative was launched in 2003 in order to enhance the U.S. cooperation with the Baltic States and the Nordic region. Political Directors from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs meet twice a year. The main fields of cooperation in the e-PINE format are security policy, relations with neighbouring countries and the development of economic relations.