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May 21, 2026 – Tallinn, Estonia – Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, yesterday met with Kęstutis Budrys, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, on the margins of the Canada–Baltics “3+1” Foreign Ministers meeting in Tallinn.
The ministers discussed continued support for Ukraine and coordinated pressure on Russia, and condemned hybrid activities by Russia and Belarus targeting Allied territory. They welcomed close Canada–Lithuania cooperation on accountability, including through Lithuania’s leadership of the Ukraine Transport Support Fund.
Minister Anand reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to the defence of NATO’s eastern flank, including the Baltic region. She spoke about Canada’s Arctic investments and their role in supporting Allied security, and thanked Lithuania for its support in ensuring these investments are recognized at the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye.
Looking ahead to Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2027, Minister Anand underscored Canada’s interest in deeper engagement with the European Union, including through the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument. The ministers discussed the need to deepen defence industrial partnerships and to provide defence companies with access to low-cost capital to expand their capacity, including through the Defence Security and Resilience Bank.
The ministers also discussed opportunities to grow commercial ties in priority sectors, including information and communications technologies and civil nuclear energy. They agreed to remain in close contact, including at the Conference on the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war, civilian detainees and deported children, which Canada will host in Toronto in September.
