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Lithuania’s leader praised President Donald Trump’s United Nations speech on Tuesday, describing it as “strong,” notably regarding border security.
“The independent state has to control the border,” President Gitanas Nausėda said in an exclusive interview with Fox News.
Lithuania shares a 422-mile border with Belarus and a 161-mile border with Russia (Kaliningrad).
“We constructed the fence, a tangible barrier, and equipped it with a state-of-the-art surveillance system. Now, the nation is secure,” President Nausėda explained. “We resisted the entry of migrants into our country.”
U.S. President Donald Trump was seen conversing with Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nausėda during a NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025. (REUTERS/Toby Melville)
“Balancing economic benefits with geopolitical goals is not an option when it comes to our security. Funds from purchasing Russian gas or oil today could lead to attacks tomorrow since it finances Russia’s military,” Nausėda remarked.
Two months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania ended its imports of Russian oil and gas.
Responding to a question about the possibility of Putin attacking a NATO member, Nausėda emphasized, “We must be prepared and do everything to prevent it. I trust in deterrence, but it needs to be credible. Lithuania supports President Trump’s call for increased defense spending. We are prepared to allocate 5% or more. Waiting until 2035 is unacceptable; we aim to spend between 5 and 6% starting in 2026.”
In March, Lithuania’s defense minister, Dovilė Šakalienė, told Fox News the only way to negotiate with Putin is with a “gun on the table.”
Today, one-fifth of Lithuania’s military procurement is spent on American weapons, the president said.
Following a recent breach of NATO airspace by Russian MiG-31 Foxhounds over Estonia, Nausėda assured that Lithuania is ready to respond if airspace violations occur over their territory, stating, “We have adequate capabilities.”
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at U.N. headquarters in New York, Sept. 23, 2025. (Li Rui/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Asked about reports the Pentagon was cutting some security funding for the Baltic States, Nausėda did not appear overly concerned. “It’s not a final decision.”
Lithuania, along with the other Baltic States, recently announced it would leave the Ottawa Convention, allowing them to deploy anti-personnel landmines as the country beefs up its border to better protect itself from neighboring Russia and Belarus.
Nausėda hopes the 1,200 American soldiers currently deployed to his country will remain. Four were killed during a training accident in March. They were given full military honors in the capital.
“Vilnius is [a] great capital. We have very nice nature, and we have very friendly people,” Nausėda said.
