BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Lithuania is
interested in advancing cooperation with Azerbaijan in transport
and logistics, energy, trade, digitalization, education, and
people-to-people contacts, Prime Minister of Lithuania Inga
Ruginienė said in an exclusive interview with Trend, as she visited
Baku.
"My visit has several important purposes. First, it is about
giving new momentum to Lithuania’s bilateral relations with
Azerbaijan and strengthening direct political dialogue at a high
level. Our countries marked 30 years of diplomatic relations
recently, and this is a good moment to look forward and identify
where our cooperation can become more practical, more regular, and
more ambitious.
Second, this visit reflects Lithuania’s broader interest in a
stable, connected, and economically resilient South Caucasus.
Azerbaijan is an important regional actor, and we believe that
closer, pragmatic engagement can serve both our bilateral interests
and wider European interests. Lithuania is particularly interested
in advancing cooperation in transport and logistics, energy, trade,
digitalisation, education, and people-to-people contacts. I also
hope to exchange views on regional security and on how we can
contribute to stability and connectivity in the wider region," she
said.
The PM notes that Azerbaijan and Lithuania are discussing
concrete ways to strengthen bilateral engagement in areas where
both sides see clear mutual benefit – particularly transport,
connectivity, energy, economic diversification, education, and
business ties.
"In the current environment, practical cooperation matters
greatly. Europe is facing a prolonged security crisis caused by
Russia’s war against Ukraine, pressure on energy markets, and
broader geopolitical fragmentation. In this context, strengthening
partnerships with reliable and strategically located countries such
as Azerbaijan is important, provided such cooperation is
transparent, rules-based, and beneficial to both sides," a
Ruginienė noted.
Cooperation in traditional and green energy
The PM pointed out that her country sees strong prospects for
broader energy cooperation. Azerbaijan has become an important and
reliable energy partner for Europe, especially at a time when the
need to diversify supply routes and reduce vulnerabilities remains
strategically important.
"For Lithuania, energy security is not an abstract issue – it is
directly linked to sovereignty, resilience, and our ability to
withstand geopolitical pressure. At the same time, we believe the
next phase of cooperation should increasingly include the green
transition.
Lithuania is interested not only in traditional energy security,
but also in the long-term transformation of Europe’s energy
systems. Lithuanian companies can offer experience in solar
solutions, clean technologies, digital systems, water management,
and other technologies relevant to sustainable infrastructure and
energy efficiency. We see value in working with Azerbaijan on both
tracks: strengthening energy connectivity today and investing in
cleaner, future-oriented solutions for tomorrow. This is
particularly relevant in a world where energy security, economic
competitiveness, and climate goals are becoming more closely
interconnected. In our view, green energy cooperation can become an
important additional pillar of Lithuania–Azerbaijan relations,"
added Ruginienė.
As for mutual support, for Azerbaijan playing a gateway to
Central Asia for Lithuania, and Lithuania as a gateway to the
Baltic states for Azerbaijan she believes that this is one of the
most promising strategic ideas in the two countries'
relationship.
"Azerbaijan has an important geographic and political role in
connecting Europe with Central Asia and the wider Caspian region.
Lithuania, for its part, is well positioned as a gateway to the
Baltic region, Northern Europe, and the European Union’s internal
market, especially through its transport infrastructure, logistics
sector, and the port of Klaipėda. For Lithuania, this is not only
about trade in the narrow sense. It is also about building
resilient connectivity in a changing geopolitical environment.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has forced Europe to rethink
supply chains, transit routes, and the broader architecture of
connectivity across Eurasia. In that context, routes that
strengthen links between Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central
Asia have growing strategic value. So I see this gateway concept as
a practical partnership of mutual benefit. Azerbaijan can help open
routes and opportunities further east, while Lithuania can provide
access westward into the Baltic and Nordic region and into broader
EU markets. If supported by stronger transport links, business
contacts, and institutional coordination, this could become a
meaningful area of long-term cooperation," said Lithuania's PM.
Broader investment opportunities
Ruginienė believes that there is clear room to expand investment
cooperation, because current levels remain below the real potential
of the two countries' economies.
"Lithuania is interested in practical sectors where it can offer
know-how and where Azerbaijani partners may see value – such as
ICT, digital governance, cybersecurity, the food industry, green
solutions, tourism, and transport-related services. Lithuanian
companies have strong expertise in digitalization, efficient public
services, solar technologies, water management, engineering
solutions, and high-quality food production, including dairy and
other agricultural products. These are areas where there may be
opportunities for commercial partnerships, including in
reconstruction and development projects where modern infrastructure
and sustainable solutions are needed.
At the same time, Lithuania would welcome greater Azerbaijani
investment in sectors where our country can offer strategic access
and a stable business environment – especially logistics,
transport, manufacturing, tourism, and selected innovation sectors.
Lithuania can serve as a practical entry point to the EU market.
Our interest is not only to increase trade figures, but to build
two-way economic ties that are more diversified, more resilient,
and less vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. Of course, for any
investment partnership to succeed, predictability, transparency,
and confidence between institutions and businesses are essential.
That is why political dialogue and practical economic cooperation
should go hand in hand," she added.
Closer cooperation in logistics, enhancing Middle
Corridor
The PM said her country sees strong potential for closer
cooperation between the ports of Klaipėda and Baku as part of a
broader effort to improve East–West connectivity. Ports are not
just infrastructure assets; in today’s geopolitical reality, they
are strategic nodes that shape trade patterns, supply-chain
resilience, and economic security.
"Lithuania is interested in more active cooperation between port
authorities, logistics companies, and transport institutions. This
could include closer business-to-business engagement, exchange of
expertise, better alignment along multimodal transport chains, and
stronger promotion of joint cargo routes. The more efficiently we
connect maritime, rail, and road links, the greater the benefits
for both sides. For Lithuania, Klaipėda is a key national asset and
an important gateway for regional trade. We believe its cooperation
with Baku could contribute to the wider connectivity agenda linking
the Caspian region with the Baltic Sea. This would not only support
bilateral trade but also strengthen alternative routes that are
increasingly important for Europe’s economic resilience," said
Ruginienė.
The prime minister highlighted Lithuania's support to the
Trans-Caspian Transport Route, or the Middle Corridor, "because it
has become strategically more important in the current geopolitical
situation".
"Europe needs stronger connectivity with Central Asia and
beyond, and it also needs routes that reduce dependence on transit
corridors affected by Russia’s destabilising role. In that sense,
the Middle Corridor is not only an economic project but also part
of a broader resilience strategy. We see Azerbaijan as one of the
key countries in making this corridor more efficient and
competitive. Lithuania’s interest is very practical: we want to
contribute to stronger Europe–Asia connectivity, to diversify trade
routes, and to create new opportunities for our transport,
logistics, and business sectors. We are particularly interested in
how our infrastructure, especially Klaipėda port, can be better
integrated into these wider networks.
If the Middle Corridor becomes faster, more predictable, and
more commercially attractive, both Lithuania and Azerbaijan stand
to benefit. Azerbaijan strengthens its role as a regional hub,
while Lithuania strengthens its position as an entry point to the
Baltic and Northern European markets. In today’s environment, this
kind of cooperation is valuable not only economically, but
strategically as well," she added.
As for the prospects for opening direct flights, Lithuanian PM
noted that this would make a real difference.
"They would support business contacts, tourism, academic
exchanges, and broader people-to-people ties. Better aviation links
would help turn interest into real exchanges and concrete projects.
For Lithuania, stronger connectivity with Azerbaijan also fits into
a broader objective of building closer ties between Europe and the
South Caucasus. Aviation is an important part of that. It is not
only about convenience, it is also about making cooperation more
regular, more visible, and more commercially viable. Naturally,
such decisions depend on market conditions and airline interest,
but from a political perspective we see direct connectivity as a
positive and forward-looking step. We would welcome discussions
that help bring our societies and business communities closer
together," Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė concluded.
