Denmark–Lithuania relations
Denmark |
Lithuania |
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Denmark–Lithuania relations refers to the historical and current diplomatic relations between Denmark and Lithuania. Lithuania has an embassy in Copenhagen, and Denmark has an embassy in Vilnius.[1][2] Denmark first recognized Lithuania in 1921 and again on 28 February 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. Diplomatic relations were established on 24 August 1991.[3] Both countries are members of the European Union, NATO, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Council of Europe.
Since Lithuanian independence, Denmark has taken a leading role in supporting Lithuania with international recognition and military and internal reforms. Denmark also played a significant role in Lithuania's accession to the EU and maintains a military presence in the country.[4]
Relations have been described as a friendly political relationship with strong defence cooperation, and active trade and investment ties.
History
Early interactions
Interactions have existed between Denmark and Lithuania since the Middle Ages which were intensified after the emergence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. However, state-to-state level interactions ceased to exist with the dissolution of the Polish–Lithuanian monarchy by the end of the 18th century.[8]
In the subsequent period, Lithuania had become an almost unknown culture and territory to the Danes. This changed after Danish traveler and ethnologist Åge Meyer Benedictsen published his oeuvre "Lithuania – the Awakening of a Nation. Pictures of Lithuanian Culture" in 1895. It contributed greatly to Lithuania's representation in Denmark.[8]
Early diplomatic relations (1918–1940)
On 26 September 1921, Danish King Christian X endorsed the proposal from the Danish government to recognize Lithuania de jure. Denmark had coordinated this decision with Norway and Sweden and informed Lithuania of their decision on 28 September 1921.[8]
Relations between the two countries were primarily focused on finding common ground on agriculture, infrastructure projects, trade and economic cooperation. At first, Danish businesses wanted to use Lithuania as a bridge to the more difficult Russian market but these hopes were abandoned and activities in Lithuania were more directed towards Lithuanian potential and development.[9]
After World War I, as part of the Polish–Lithuanian War, the League of Nations planned on holding a referendum for the future of Vilnius and the border areas between Poland and Lithuania, and approached Denmark to send a small contingency acting as a peace-keeping force for the referendum. However, the referendum was not held and the Danish soldiers never left for Lithuania either.[9]
Relations with Soviet Lithuania (1940–1990)
Diplomatic relations ceased to exist during World War II as Denmark became occupied by Nazi Germany while Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union. No official contacts existed between Denmark and the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic.[9] Denmark never recognized Soviet sovereignty over Lithuania and was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with the new Lithuanian state on 24 August 1991, on the instruction of Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen.[10]
Modern relations
Initial relations (1990–1991)
Prior to the establishment of diplomatic relations, Lithuanian Prime Minister Kazimira Prunskienė had visited Denmark in April 1990 prompting protest from Soviet authorities. However, the Danes responded by stating that the recognition from 1921 was still valid.[12]
On 20 December 1990, Lithuanian Foreign Minister
Military cooperation (1991–2006)
In September 1991,
Throughout the 1990s, Denmark had become a staunch supporter of incorporating Lithuania into NATO and the EU and rendered considerable assistance to Lithuania militarily and economically.[24] Lithuania becoming a member of NATO in 2004 was a Danish goal and the military cooperation only continued afterwards. The Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf became affiliated with the Danish Division in 2006 and some of its officials were based in Haderslev.[25]
From 1996 to 2007, Lithuanian naval officers studied at the Royal Danish Naval Academy and procured 3 Standart Flex 300 vessels from Denmark between 2007 and 2010.[26]
In 2011, Danish Defence Minister Nick Hækkerup visited Lithuania.[27]
Danish support for EU membership (1993–2004)
When Denmark took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 1993, the council assured that Lithuania would become a member of the union as soon as the Copenhagen criteria were fulfilled. For this, Denmark supported and mentored Lithuania on wide-range subjects from negotiations with the European Union to local bureaucratic projects.[28] To prepare ten Eastern European countries for EU membership, Denmark began the FEU program of which Lithuania received the most funds and most projects (26% of projects and 33% of committed funds). At the Helsinki European Council in 1999, Lithuania presented the results of their reforms to the council which exceeded expectations, and Denmark could therefore rely on these results in persuading the other EU countries for a Lithuanian membership. As the EU opened negotiations with Lithuania after the Helsinki meeting, Denmark began assisting Lithuania so the latter would be better equipped for the negotiations. Denmark moreover negotiated for financial support from the EU for Lithuania to close down Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant – a prerequisite for membership.[29] In 2002, Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus stated that Denmark was the largest sponsor of the country.[30]
Lithuania became a member of the European Union on 1 May 2004.[31]
Visits by Danish Prime Ministers and Lithuanian Presidents
Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas visited Denmark in April 2003[32] and Dalia Grybauskaitė in both 2013 and 2016.[33][34]
Conversely, Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen visited Lithuania in 2000,[35] Anders Fogh Rasmussen in 2005,[36] Helle Thorning-Schmidt in 2011 and Lars Løkke Rasmussen in 2018.[37][38]
Due to the
Trade
Trade between the two countries have been described as healthy.[40] The following table shows the annual trade numbers between the two countries from 1992 to 2020 in euro:[41]
Year | Lithuanian imports to Denmark | Danish imports to Lithuania |
---|---|---|
1992 | €45.63 million | €34.85 million |
1993 | €38.59 million | €25.8 million |
1994 | €61.95 million | €59.26 million |
1995 | €72.24 million | €100.29 million |
1996 | €86.91 million | €134.3 million |
1997 | €102.3 million | €213.1 million |
1998 | €139.52 million | €219.04 million |
1999 | €186.46 million | €224.86 million |
2000 | €235.49 million | €210.62 million |
2001 | €249.15 million | €251.05 million |
2002 | €268.34 million | €264.19 million |
2003 | €282.3 million | €247.77 million |
2004 | €293.27 million | €218.4 million |
2005 | €268.49 million | €222.7 million |
2006 | €298.35 million | €287.53 million |
2007 | €337.36 million | €363.32 million |
2008 | €539.95 million | €339.38 million |
2009 | €362.01 million | €213.14 million |
2010 | €397.83 million | €240.43 million |
2011 | €377.12 million | €347.91 million |
2012 | €442.96 million | €341.59 million |
2013 | €438.05 million | €367 million |
2014 | €484.46 million | €336.21 million |
2015 | €513.31 million | €360.31 million |
2016 | €463.45 million | €375.01 million |
2017 | €534.61 million | €406.29 million |
2018 | €669.55 million | €448.17 million |
2019 | €655.05 million | €412.75 million |
2020 | €664.15 million | €377.09 million |
See also
Notes
- ^ "Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the Kingdom of Denmark - About Us". Archived from the original on 2016-08-11. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Den Danske Ambassade i Vilnius - Om Os" (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2021-12-28. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Denmark". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. 19 February 2014. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
- ^ "H.K.H. Kronprinsessen besøger Litauen i anledning af 100-året for etableringen af de diplomatiske relationer mellem Danmark og Litauen" (in Danish). 1 October 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), p. 297.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), pp. 300–301.
- ^ "Denmark to send additional forces to Baltics in response to Russia's actions – media". LRT. 12 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ a b c Poulsen & Brask (2021), pp. 10–11.
- ^ a b c Poulsen & Brask (2021), p. 11.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), pp. 11–12.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), p. 126.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), p. 109.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), pp. 103–105.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), p. 106.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), p. 111.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), p. 112.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), p. 124.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), pp. 126–127.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), pp. 128–129.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), p. 136.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), pp. 137–138.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), p. 146.
- ^ a b "Defence Ministers of Lithuania and Denmark underscored the need for strengthening bilateral cooperation". Ministry of National Defense Republic of Lithuania. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), pp. 150 & 162.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), p. 171.
- ^ "Admiral Danish Fleet will visit Lithuania". Ministry of National Defense Republic of Lithuania. 12 February 2012. Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Minister of National Defence formally received Denmark's Minister of Defence". Ministry of National Defense Republic of Lithuania. 12 December 2011. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), pp. 204–207.
- ^ Poulsen & Brask (2021), pp. 208–212.
- ^ "Danija - didžiausia Lietuvos rėmėja" (in Lithuanian). 9 April 2002. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "Growing together: EU support to Lithuania that joined in 2004". European Commission. 30 April 2019. Archived from the original on 2020-08-22. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "AFR Besøg af den litauiske præsident Rolandas Paksas" (in Danish). 30 April 2003. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "HTS Statsministeren mødes med Litauens præsident" (in Danish). 18 January 2013. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Erhvervslivet håber på stærkere samarbejde med Litauen". Politiken (in Danish). 14 September 2016. Archived from the original on 2022-01-17. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "PNR Statsministeren besøger Litauen (1)" (in Danish). 25 February 2000. Archived from the original on 2021-12-06. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ "AFR Statsministeren besøger Litauen, Estland og Letland". 28 April 2005. Archived from the original on 2021-12-18. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "HTS Statsministeren besøger Polen, Nederlandene, Estland, Letland og Litauen". 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Danish PM says Danes protect not only Balts but also themselves by patrolling Baltic skies". Delfi. 16 January 2018. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Fem partiledere besøger danske soldater i de baltiske lande". 29 March 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ "Brothers across the Baltic". The Copenhagen Post. 6 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Imports and exports CN (EU Combined Nomenclature) by unit, country, imports and exports and time". Statistics of Denmark. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
Bibliography
- Poulsen, Niels Bo; Brask, Hans, eds. (2021), Denmark and Lithuania through 100 years of bilateral relations, ISBN 978-609-96256-0-7
Further reading
- Grigaravičiūtė, Sandra (2006). "Istorija : Lietuvos aukštųjų mokyklų mokslo darbai: Lietuvos konsulatai Danijoje 1924-1940 metais" (PDF). Istorija. Lietuvos aukštųjų mokyklų mokslo darbai (in Lithuanian). 63.
- Mažeika, Vaidotas (2002). Danijos santykiai su Lietuva, 1918-1940 m (in Lithuanian). LII l-kla. ISBN 9789986780427.