On 6 December, President Edgars Rinkēvičs paid a working visit to the Republic of Lithuania, where he met with President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Estonia Alar Karis and President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda. The meeting addressed regional and energy security issues, support for Ukraine, transatlantic relations and the situation in Georgia.
At the meeting, the Presidents of the Baltic states and Poland jointly attended a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the of the liquefied natural gas terminal “Independence”. In his remarks, the President of Latvia highlighted the vital importance of the terminal to the Baltic states, both in the past and in the present. It strengthens energy independence and encourages competition between suppliers, as the last decade has demonstrated the significance of reliable infrastructure and a competitive energy market. This is crucial not only in times of peace but also in times of crisis. When the Russian aggression against Ukraine began, the Klaipeda terminal became, to some extent, a lifeline. It allowed the Baltic states to cease reliance on Russian gas in a very short time.
President Rinkēvicš also emphasised that in February 2025 the Baltic electricity systems would be synchronised with the European Union. The Klaipėda terminal is therefore a crucial component of the energy infrastructure, serving as a vital backup option in scenarios where renewable energy production low or electricity imports are limited. Like the Inčukalns gas storage facility in Latvia, the facility serves to strengthen the Baltic energy market.
The Presidents of the Baltic states and Poland also adopted a joint statement confirming their strong support for the Georgian people's aspiration to integrate into the European Union.
