Trudeau opens Canada’s embassy in Vilnius

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday the opening of his country’s embassies in Vilnius and Tallinn.

“Strong relationships we share as allies and like-minded democracies are more important than ever,” he said at a joint press conference with Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.

Earlier on Monday, President Gitanas Nausėda received a letter of credence from Canada’s first ambassador to Lithuania Jeanette Sautner.

“I am confident that the presence of an embassy in Vilnius will open up new opportunities to further strengthen ties between our countries and to expand the bilateral agenda between our countries,” Šimonytė said at the press conference.

Until now, Riga has been home to Canada’s only embassy in the Baltic states with the embassy’s offices in Vilnius and Tallinn.

Justin Trudeau and Ingrida Šimonytė in Vilnius / J. Stacevičius/LRT

During his visit to Riga on Monday, Trudeau also announced that Canada would deploy additional 1,200 troops to Latvia, bringing the NATO multinational battalion led by Ottawa to a brigade-size unit.

The Canadian prime minister said that his country was thus contributing to NATO’s readiness in the region and implementing decisions to deter Russian aggression in the Baltic countries.

“We will stand up to any aggressor who tries to impose their own belief that might makes right. We are united in our mission to protect freedom, democracy, and the rule of law,” Trudeau stressed.

Šimonytė said that Lithuania particularly valued close cooperation with Canada in coordinating international sanctions against Russia and Belarus and support for Ukraine.

“We agreed on the need to remain united and determined in stopping Russian aggression and supporting Ukraine to victory,” the Lithuanian prime minister said.

Trudeau has arrived in Vilnius for the NATO summit, which kicks off on Tuesday.