VILNIUS, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania will voice its view on free trade, geopolitical and security issues as well as strategic partnership at the upcoming Baltic Summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, President Dalia Grybauskaite said on Friday.
"It is the first time that we are invited to participate in the so called Baltic summit, it will be the first meeting based on such format with President Trump," Grybauskaite said in an interview with local news agency Elta.
On April 3, Lithuania's head of state together with the presidents of Latvia and Estonia will attend a summit of the Baltic countries and the U.S. at the White House.
"Transatlantic relations between the U.S. and Europe will be on the table, particularly as regards recent tensions in the area of international trade. We will try to discuss and explain our position in order to maintain free trade principles among the main partners," Grybauskaite said.
She also mentioned that certain disagreements are more visible between the U.S. and its bigger partners from Europe, while the U.S. relationship with smaller countries such as the Baltic or Nordic states remain "quite good".
The Baltic-U.S. summit is held at the initiative of President Trump to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Baltic States' independence and to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, Lithuania's presidency said in a statement.
In Washington, the four presidents will adopt a joint political declaration setting out the guidelines for future cooperation.
Regional security and ways of ensuring it, preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in Brussels, NATO's defense reform will be discussed at the meeting, according to the statement.
The Baltic presidents will also open the Lithuania-Latvia-Estonia-U.S. Business Forum, which is expected to gather representatives from more than 200 Baltic and American companies.
