„The main priority today is the situation of our citizens, ensuring their safety, and we are working on this issue at various levels,“ Budrys told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Monday morning.
„According to our data, there are a total of around 2,000 people in the Middle East. Slightly fewer have registered with our representative offices. We urge people to do so; the more information we have, the timelier our assistance will be,“ he said.
The minister states that most Lithuanian citizens are currently in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
However, evacuating citizens from countries in the region is not being considered at this time. Nevertheless, Budrys assured that all mechanisms for such processes are in place.
„As of today, I can say that there are no plans to activate evacuation or repatriation, but all mechanisms on the part of the European Union are ready,“ assured the head of the country's diplomacy.
What will determine whether the evacuation will take place?
„The security situation—everything will depend on how much it deteriorates. Whether it will be safe for citizens to remain or not,“ replied the minister.
„The assessment is being made at the EU level, a package of civil protection measures has been prepared, and we will see based on that,“ he added, emphasising that if the evacuation of EU citizens from the countries in the region takes place, it will not be a simple operation.
Therefore, Budrys reiterated the recommendations of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to leave Iran as soon as possible and refrain from unnecessary travel to other countries in the region. According to him, these recommendations are updated as the security situation changes.
„I urge all Lithuanian citizens to register and follow the consular information provided on the MFA website or the websites of our missions,“ he said.
The minister emphasized that Lithuania is working at various levels to ensure the safety of its citizens, both with European Union (EU) countries and institutions, as well as with other allies and countries in the region. Foreign Minister Budrys has already spoken with some of them in recent days.
„To avoid misunderstandings, to avoid chaos. We have experience, not all of it good, from the 12-day war – remembering how the evacuation and repatriation from the Middle East took place in June. This time, we want everything to go smoothly,“ said Budrys.
The situation in the region is being taken very seriously
Speaking about the overall situation in the Middle East, Budrys emphasised that the situation is very serious. According to the head of Lithuanian diplomacy, the interest of all states is clear – to avoid further escalation.
„We strongly condemn Iran's retaliatory strikes against countries in the region. We understand that the goal is to cause as much chaos and turmoil in the region as possible by attacking civilian targets. This is absolutely unacceptable and violates international law, the principle of sovereignty, and the inviolability of territory,“ the minister said, voicing Lithuania's position.
„We have expressed our full political solidarity with the countries of the Persian Gulf, and I have done the same in my conversations with ministers,“ he added.
However, it is unclear whether an escalation of events will be avoided. Budrys acknowledged that the further prospects remain uncertain.
„We see that the US and Israel, in carrying out their attacks, have not yet achieved the goals they have set for themselves, namely, to completely prevent Iran from continuing its missile program, nuclear program, and supporting favourable regimes and terrorist organisations in the region. We understand that this will take time. Well, until that happens, we hope that the safety of our citizens will be ensured, as much of the airspace in the region is closed,“ he said.
„It is in the EU's strategic interest that the regime in Iran be removed“
As reported by ELTA, Israel launched preventive strikes against Iran on Saturday morning. US President Donald Trump also confirmed that Washington had launched „major military action“ against Iran and ordered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to surrender immediately, otherwise they would face „certain death.“
On Sunday, Iran confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in the strikes and assured that this meant war had been declared on Muslims.
In turn, a series of Iranian strikes caused chaos throughout the Persian Gulf region.
When asked whether Lithuania fully supports the US and Israel in this conflict, Budrys stated that it is in the interests of Lithuania and the entire EU that the regime in Iran be removed.
„We see that diplomatic efforts to get Iran to stop its missile and nuclear programs through negotiations have failed. We can only regret that there were probably no other options at the time. The possibility of negotiating and reaching an agreement remains. However, the military measures that we see have been used were probably among the last that could be taken,“ said Budrys.
„We also have to define very clearly what our strategic interest is. Yesterday, I urged EU foreign ministers to do so very clearly, because it is in the EU's strategic interest that the regime in Iran be removed. A regime that poses a threat to the countries of the region, an existential threat to Israel, and can also reach the EU with the means at its disposal,“ said the minister.
„We also know that there are certain threats to us. It is in our interest to cooperate with the US to achieve long-term change in the region. In our opinion and belief, we can do this while fully complying with international law,“ added the head of Lithuanian diplomacy.