Lithuania

Lithuania lies in northeastern Europe bordered by Latvia, Belarus, Poland, Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, and the Baltic Sea. Glacial lowlands support thousands of lakes, rivers such as the Nemunas and Neris, and peat bogs rich in wildlife. The Curonian Spit, a UNESCO-listed sandbar shared with Russia, features shifting dunes, amber beaches, and fishing villages, while the Žemaitija Highlands host dense spruce and pine forests home to elk, wolves, and black storks. Summers are mild, winters snowy, and the daylight varies dramatically across seasons, shaping festivals and farming cycles.

Lithuania is a parliamentary republic with a president elected nationwide and a prime minister leading the government accountable to the Seimas (parliament). Counties and municipalities manage schools, healthcare, and infrastructure, while elders in local seniūnijos coordinate community initiatives. Lithuania belongs to the European Union, NATO, eurozone, and Schengen Area, supports the Baltic Council of Ministers, and contributes to NATO's enhanced forward presence on the eastern flank.

History reflects Baltic tribes, the rise of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 14th century, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which pioneered elective monarchy and religious tolerance. After partitions in the 18th century, Lithuania spent more than a century under Russian rule before declaring independence in 1918. Soviet occupation during World War II led to deportations and resistance movements, and the 1990 Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania—signed by Sąjūdis reformers—became the first declaration of independence from the USSR.

Lithuania's economy blends forestry, agriculture, and logistics with high-value laser manufacturing, fintech services, biotechnology, and game development. Vilnius hosts digital identity companies, Kaunas develops electronics and electric buses, and Klaipėda's ice-free port links Baltic trade with Scandinavia. Renewable energy policy promotes onshore and offshore wind farms, solar parks on brownfields, and district heating fueled by biomass. The Rail Baltica corridor and Via Baltica highway strengthen north-south transport through the Baltic states.

Cultural life features Vilnius' Baroque old town, Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai, and traditional wooden seaside cottages. Folk art includes straw mobiles called sodai, palm bouquets carried on Palm Sunday, and polyphonic sutartinės songs recognized by UNESCO. Foods such as cepelinai potato dumplings, cold beet soup šaltibarščiai, rye bread, and honey mead appear at family tables. Lithuania supports basketball legends, Baltic song festivals, and innovative design weeks, while diplomats champion cybersecurity, support for Ukraine, and energy interconnections through the Three Seas Initiative.