Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys meets UAE Foreign Minister in New York
On 23 September, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys met in New York with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The ministers discussed the security situation in Europe and the Middle East, cooperation on defence and security, the prevention of sanctions circumvention, and opportunities to strengthen bilateral political and economic ties.
“We see the UAE not only as an economic partner in the Gulf region, but also as an increasingly important partner on security, stability and international cooperation. We want our political dialogue and solidarity rooted in shared values to lead to practical results that benefit people and businesses in both countries,” said Minister Budrys.
The minister stressed the importance of safe and unhindered navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. He noted that Lithuania stands ready to contribute to international efforts to ensure maritime security and the resilience of international trade routes.
Minister Budrys also urged the UAE to step up its efforts to prevent sanctions circumvention, with particular attention to Common High Priority items and the so-called shadow fleet. He emphasised that effective sanctions enforcement is an important part of international efforts to limit Russia’s ability to continue its aggression against Ukraine.
The ministers also discussed opportunities to expand Lithuanian–UAE cooperation in high technology, innovation and digitalisation.
They agreed to maintain an active political dialogue and seek new opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in both the economic and security fields.
