LITHUANIA

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Context

• Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Shantanu Thakur, and the Vice Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, Mr. Ejidijus Meilunas met in New Delhi today.
• The meeting focused on strengthening the maritime bilateral relations between India and Lithuania. Both the Ministers expressed their appreciation for the strong and friendly relations between India and Lithuania.

About

• Lithuania is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe.
• It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.
• Lithuania shares land borders with Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, Poland to the south, and Kaliningrad Oblast of Russia to the southwest.
• It has a maritime border with Sweden to the west on the Baltic Sea.
• Its capital and largest city is Vilnius.

India-Lithuania relations

• Opening of Indian Mission in Lithuania will help expand India’s diplomatic footprint and deepen political relations and strategic cooperation.
• It will also provide market access for Indian companies and bolster Indian exports of goods and services.
• India recognized Lithuania (along with the other Baltic States of Latvia and Estonia) on 7th September 1991 after acceptance of their independence by the erstwhile USSR.
• Diplomatic relations were established with Lithuania on 25th February 1992.
• Lithuanian language, which is the oldest living Indo-European language, has a lot of similarities with Sanskrit hence signifying possible close ancient links.