Moving away from stiff, monolithic monologues, the high-profile lecture positioned cultural identity and public resilience as the foundational cornerstones for modern European solidarity and defensive deterrence. Ambassador Puodžiūnas anchored the opening framework of his presentation in a sweeping historical analysis of Lithuania’s enduring struggle to preserve its sovereign statehood. 

Highlighting the nation’s deep roots as a medieval European superpower in the fifteenth century, the envoy detailed the long centuries of subsequent external occupation, including intense nineteenth-century Russification campaigns under the Russian Empire that sought to completely ban the Lithuanian language and Latin script. The speaker explained that Lithuania survived this existential erasure through the unique underground movement of book smugglers (Knygnešiai) who risked their lives to bring literature across Prussian borders to secret community schools.

By tracing this lineage of survival through the dark periods of Soviet occupation—noting that while the Second World War ended for Western Europe in 1945, the occupation of Lithuania only concluded in 1993 with the departure of the last Soviet soldier—the Ambassador demonstrated that historical solidarity, strong linguistic identity, and deep-rooted communal connections are raw, vital instruments for modern political endurance.

Central to the address was a data-driven presentation demonstrating the staggering success of the "Baltic Miracle" following Lithuania’s accession to the European Union. Puodžiūnas highlighted that since joining the Union, the nation has executed one of the fastest economic transitions in global history, with its GDP per capita climbing from forty-five per cent of the European average to an impressive hundred and twenty per cent.

The Ambassador firmly argued that this remarkable economic development directly refutes rising trends of populism and nationalism across Europe, stating that societal resilience is structurally sustained when a free, democratic nation invests heavily in education, critical thinking, and the economic well-being of its citizens. The presentation positioned Lithuania’s transition not merely as a success story of a single market, but as a direct inspiration for neighboring states—explicitly defending Ukraine's civilizational choice to pursue comprehensive integration into the European Union and NATO frameworks.

The lecture held an immediate geopolitical weight, addressing the complex security architecture facing frontline Baltic states bordering highly aggressive neighbors. Reflecting on the painful historical lesson of Lithuania's failed attempts at pre-war neutrality, Puodžiūnas emphasized that modern security relies entirely on active, collective defense commitments rather than paper guarantees. The Ambassador proudly stated that in response to shifting regional architectures, Lithuania has mobilized its domestic resources to invest a historic 5.38 per cent of its GDP into national defense, positioning the country as a primary financial contributor within the entire NATO alliance.

The lecture concluded with a preview of upcoming cultural milestones, including the highly anticipated Lithuanian Year in Germany and the nation’s second presidency of the European Council, proving that small sovereign states function not merely as consumers of security, but as vital exporters of culture, innovation, and global democratic resilience.

Forum on Cultural Diplomacy in the European Union

Potsdam, Germany | 18–19 June 2026

Speaker:

"Good afternoon. So, it's a great honor for me to speak to you this hot day.

Sorry for technical misunderstandings. Sometimes you have it.

As a person who likes to keep discussions interactive, I hate the monologues. So, I rather prefer discussion and, you know, the questions which you would find interesting to you.

So, I would present my point of view with unique Lithuanian experience, bringing into the European Union and how Lithuania is enriching, how it is using this tool of cultural diplomacy, being an active member of the European Union.

So, we called our presentation today “Culture, Cooperation and Common Values”.

Yes, like this.

So, Lithuania used to be the continent of ongoing conflicts for the last 2,000 years, and we faced two cruel wars in the 20th century: World War Number One and World War Number Two.

European nations tried to create the system which would secure peace and prosperity before the Second World War. We failed, unfortunately, and on the ruins of the Second World War, European nations, former rivals, tried to build something more secure, more sustainable.

First as the economical project of steel and coal, rather later on the economic, but from the very beginning culture and values used to play very important roles.

So, we often say that the European Union is not just a union of profit or the single market, but also a union of values.

And those are very important elements because they are helping to secure sustainable peace, and it is built on some say six main topics or values, like freedom, democracy, human rights, equality and the rule of law.

Europe and the European continent is a very colorful one.

As you know, we are 27 very different experiences, very different cultures.

Culture helps us to find the universal languages inside of the European Union, to know who are in this family, what kind of countries represent the European Union, and that helps us to speak with one voice and represent this unique European project.

At the same time, it helps to build bridges between the communities, between the people, and project Lithuanian European values externally in our neighborhood.

So, we say that the European Union is united in diversity.

From one side, we are speaking about the same values. At the same time, the European Union facilitates your national culture to grow stronger, to present yourself, not just trying to create something, you know, European which has no roots and has no tradition in the past.

So, the European Union is united in diversity, and that's also a very important element while looking into the future.

Some words about our Lithuanian experience.

Lithuania is not a young state. We created our state in the middle of the 13th century.

Interestingly enough, Lithuania is the last pagan country of Europe, discovered very late in the 17th century.

Some Germans called us Columbus because they discovered us in those dense forests of northern eastern Europe and baptized us just in the end of the 14th century.

Western Lithuania even later, in the beginning of the 15th century.

Lithuania used to be a mighty country in the Middle Ages. Some called it the land of Vikings.

We used to be even the biggest state in Europe. Can you believe it? In the 15th century.

And because of external threats, Lithuanian nobility tried to find the ways how to stop the threat coming from the east, mainly from the Russian state, Moscow White Duchy.

So, we forged the Commonwealth of two states, and we lived with Poland in the country of two nations, two states, from the middle of the 16th century to the end of the 18th century.

Unfortunately, internal weakness allowed or facilitated aggressive neighboring countries to divide the state.

So, we spent all the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century occupied by the Russian Empire.

We used to have 20 years of the break between two world wars, which used to be very important to us.

And then, after 1944, one more time, this time occupation of the Soviet Union.

So, for many European nations, the Second World War ended in 1945. For Lithuania, it was 1993, when the last Soviet soldier left Lithuanian territory.

So, the 19th century and half of the 20th century used to be very difficult for the Lithuanian state.

And what helped us to survive? So, of course, strong cultural identity, religion, national language and strong communal connections.

So, in the 19th century, even the name of Lithuania was prohibited. From Lithuania, we started to be called the northern eastern province of Russia.

They tried to ban the Lithuanian language and Latin script for half of the century.

So, Lithuanians used to have a unique movement of the smugglers who smuggled the books from Eastern Prussia to Lithuania and secured, in this underground school system, the learning of Lithuanian language and literature.

So, in the 19th century life was hard. The 20th century was not easy at all.

The same Russification, national traditions, and with all this experience Lithuania came to the late 20th century.

Lithuania used to be the first country of the former Soviet Union which declared independence.

So, why am I taking so much time explaining all this?

Lithuanians are staunch supporters of freedom fighters, not just in the neighborhood but worldwide.

So, we have a lot of empathy for the countries and the nations which are fighting for freedom.

So, we have a lot of understanding for the countries which used to be colonies of mightier countries.

You can call Lithuania used to be the Russian colony or the Soviet Union.

Freedom, solidarity, freedom of expression play a very important role in modern Lithuania.

And I will tell you later how this reflects in the present history.

In the difficult times of the Soviet occupation, Europe played a major role in strengthening our identity and preparing us for the jump into the future.

So, to survive in such hard conditions, you have to have an idea which would help you to survive.

So, Europe was playing the idea of Europe, not as a geographical entity but as a kind of civilization, human rights, values, economical system.

So, that helped us a lot.

And in Soviet times, we used to have an underground movement, probably the only one in the former Soviet Union, which was bringing illegal books from the West, sharing the knowledge.

Young Lithuanian people used to listen to American and free European radio, Voice of America, different stuff.

So, being kind of living in this partisan mood, but dreaming about the possibility, you know, for the future.

And we saw it in 1989.

So, you probably heard about the Baltic Way, when three Baltic nations connected hands from Vilnius to Tallinn, 600 kilometers, more than two million people, showing, on one side, the criminal character of the pre-war agreement between Nazi Russia and the Soviet Union, and on the other side, showing the willingness to become the part of the European Union.

And Lithuanians used to be staunch supporters of the European Union, and we still are.

And this chart is showing you how we invested time and money.

Our Lithuanian GDP since 2004, when Lithuania, after negotiations with the former members, joined the European Union in 2004.

So, our GDP grew more than three times.

In 2004, our GDP per capita was roughly 45% of the European Union average. Now Lithuania is 120%.

So, it's probably the fastest-growing economical project, and that is not just bringing very different possibilities for your businesses, for your people, but also being part of a unique community of European nations.

So, Lithuanians are one of the biggest enthusiasts of the European Union, and that is good.

So, in difficult times, when we are living in turbulent times and sometimes we are not certain in ourselves, in our future, in our values, some nations used to be not so lucky as we are.

And now Ukraine is facing the force here, in the war, full invasion.

So, Lithuania is one of the biggest supporters of the European Ukrainian ambition to become a member of the European Union and NATO.

This is important, and a country which is sacrificing the life of fellow citizens, they have a narrative, they have an idea, they have a vision.

I would say that for Ukraine joining the European Union is a civilization choice.

This is important to stress.

So, Lithuania is not just a very successful country of transition, one of the newest members of the European Union, but we are an inspiration for the countries in our neighborhood.

Then, being a member of this unique community which I already mentioned, it's not the community of the single market and the economical aspects, but also the community of values.

So, we are also serving as a bridge between the West and the East, presenting those universal values to our neighborhoods, the countries in the West from Lithuania.

Of course, culture plays a very important role in the present Lithuanian state, and cultural diplomacy is one of the tools.

I have mentioned that Lithuania has been vanished from the map of Europe for 50 years, and the knowledge about Lithuania in Western Europe is rather limited.

As we speak here in Germany, the situation is the same.

So, we see that the possibility of presenting our culture, our history, our tradition is a very efficient tool to be understood, to be supported, not just in times of peace but also in the need, if Lithuania needs to be supported in security matters.

So, it's very important to have an understanding between nations, between states.

And if you are not known, then you have a problem.

So, Lithuania is trying to change it.

In 2013, Lithuania for the first time played the presidency role in the European Council.

In 2027, in the first half, Lithuania would do it the second time.

And for Lithuania, it is an excellent time to present our culture, our education, our science, our history, and we are going to do this.

Of course, cultural diplomacy is a task for the diplomats who are not just busy with the political agenda, economical issues, but also with culture.

So, being here in Germany, we are trying to be active, good communicators and exporters of Lithuanian culture.

Germany is a big country with 16 federal states, 86 million people.

So, we have full hands of the job to show ourselves and sometimes to present the old forgotten neighbor of Germany.

So, we have good experiences of different forms of presenting ourselves.

One of those used to be in France: Lithuanian Season, when Lithuania presented in more than 400 different events Lithuanian culture.

Next year, we are going to organize Lithuanian Year in Germany, presenting not just Lithuanian culture here in Berlin, probably in Bonn as well, but in different federal states and capitals.

But also the culture, the economical achievements, cooperation, and organizing different political round tables.

So, in our daily life, culture is playing a crucial role.

We do have the cultural share here in Germany.

We have several of those in different European and not just European capitals.

And this network serves as a very useful tool to present our culture, our ambitions, and the willingness to cooperate with our international partners.

So, that's some examples of how Lithuania tries to use this useful instrument, presenting our culture.

So, Lithuania is a powerhouse of theatre.

We have an excellent tradition of filmmaking, visual arts, modern dance, a lot of interesting heritage, literature, different parts of our present and modern culture.

So, that was my short introduction.

I hope that you would have many questions.

Thank you very much, Mr. Ambassador.

[Applause]

I would like to start with a Q&A.

Hello. Hello. My name is Ain Janova. I'm from Kazakhstan.

I'll be speaking a bit later.

I actually did visit Vilnius last year, very happy to discover your country, and in my university we did a cooperation with Nicholas Rogers University, which actually was very successful because they are unique in having programs in law in English language, which is actually quite rare for Europe, which enables dual cooperation.

So, my question is: what about your country's cooperation with Kazakhstan and Central Asia generally? What is the strategy there?

Yeah, thank you for the good question.

Of course, we have some historical traditions and links.

We used to live in the same state for 50 years, so we still have good traditions and connections.

I would say that we are looking for different types of possibilities.

I would not say that we have some specific strategy to present our culture in Middle Asia or somewhere in the Far East.

It's more like universal codes and some ideas which could be interesting to our partners, presenting diversity to possible partners.

So, it's not like, you know, the concept shaped specifically for the region.

I would say all the partnerships for us are interesting because Lithuania is not really a big country, just of 3 million.

For us, to be understood, to be recognized, to be seen is important, not just for the culture.

Culture serves us as the link between states and nations.

And if you are better understood, then you have, I would say, the facilitation for economical cooperation, for political culture cooperation, because culture is the universal language.

Sometimes we have very different traditions, very different languages, very different cultures, very different traditions, but culture is a universal language which helps you just to engage.

And that's a very important one.

So, I'm happy that we are finding ways to the minds and hearts of the friends in Kazakhstan.

Next.

Thank you, Mr. Ambassador.

My name is Arlet. I'm from the Netherlands.

And I'm curious. I saw in one of your slides that there is going to be a lot of Lithuanian action in Germany.

But as your friendly neighbor on the other side, at least as Germany's friendly neighbor, what does that look like in the rest of Europe?

Can we enjoy Lithuanian film or music, or perhaps food or drinks, or anything else?

What do these cultural events look like and what does it look like for the rest of Europe?

Yeah, so that's why I mentioned specifically Lithuanian Year in Germany because I'm based in Germany.

So that's my basic interest.

But of course, because of the Lithuanian presidency in the European Council, we are organizing different types of events in different countries.

And we have an active ambassador in Holland, so I hope that he would bring what's the best from our culture.

So, we have very interesting connections with the Netherlands, for example wooden shoes, which you call clompen, is a clomp in Lithuania, so probably that's your legacy in Lithuania.

So, different traditions, different things and different forgotten interesting historical connections, not just history but also modern culture.

Lithuania is known to be quickly creative, very digitalized and a modern country.

So, I hope that our embassy would prepare a nice program, at least in the first half of 2027, something beautiful to show to you.

The same, we as Lithuanians, we are keen and interested to experience your culture.

So, I hope that the Dutch embassy in Vilnius is doing the same.

You're welcome in Holland.

Thanks.

Good afternoon, professor.

My name is Sep. I'm a master student here at ICD. I'm from India.

During the break, I had a short conversation with Professor Bruckner about the rising trends of populism and nationalism all over Europe.

And how fortunate then directly after this break we have the Lithuanian ambassador, whose country recently saw a change wherein I think a right-wing or an extreme right-wing party was kind of let go from the ruling coalition, and now I think the ruling coalition is mostly centrist.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Do you have any comment on this trend?

Number one, and number two, about what countries like Lithuania and then Spain, I would say to some extent, have to show to other countries in Europe about how to combat this rising trend of nationalism and populism?

Yes, thank you for a good question.

I would say that two main factors of the present days play a crucial role.

The first one is economical development.

Until you are successful, no one is interested in those types of things.

When you start to stagnate or, so to say, not develop, then you face the problems.

And this is important, but not easy to do always, to grow, because Lithuania used to grow last 20 years enormously.

I mentioned the numbers, and that is reflected in the numbers of Lithuanians being very pro-European, very supportive.

The second issue is, of course, social networks, because the world is very quickly changing and complex.

No one understands what is going on, and people are looking for simple answers for difficult questions.

And they are finding those in social networks.

Sometimes they have nothing to do with reality.

All those theories and something like this.

So, it is very important to invest into critical thinking, into education, to distinguish who is who and why.

Of course, name the only one successful populist project.

They are ready to grab the power, but they are not ready to solve your problems.

So, people are already, you know, sociologists are saying that if you would give the vote to choose between the rod and the fish, they will go for fish.

So, they are looking for easy questions, for easy answers.

And for this, to have sustainable development, you have to invest into resilience.

Not just critical infrastructure, but mainly into society.

It's a very important issue because democracy is the task not just for the elites, but the task is for all the nation.

We should understand that democracies work like this: you have not just rights, you also have responsibilities.

So, in our modern, very complex, very difficult world, education plays a crucial role.

It's not just for the European Union, it's worldwide.

Because we are kind of one.

Until you are successful economically, until you invest into resilience, into your narrative, into your story, you are resilient.

I would say that Lithuania is resilient because of the things I spent some 5–10 minutes telling you about.

So, we are a good example of how much a free, democratic and ambitious nation can achieve.

I see you by numbers.

Thank you, Ambassador Bert, for attending our program and speaking. We all appreciate it very much.

I am also a student here at ICD, and my question is a little more geopolitical.

I wanted to ask: Lithuania is in a very specific, crucial position, both politically and geographically, as both an EU nation and a NATO member, bordering or being one of the first nations to border a very aggressive nation, an aggressive neighbor.

What challenges have arisen out of these events, and what strategies has Lithuania utilized to navigate the specific geopolitical situation that you find yourself in?

That is my question.

Yeah, that's a good question.

Those changing circumstances and the rapidly changing security architecture of the European Union.

So, Lithuania tried to be neutral before the Second World War. It didn't really work out, because to be neutral you have to have guarantees of the mighty neighboring states.

So, Lithuania failed. Lithuania and Estonia were occupied in the 1940s.

And after regaining our independence in 1990, for us it was very clear that we want to be part of something bigger where we could develop in peace and sustainably.

And two geopolitical projects: European Union and NATO.

The European Union, I showed the numbers, so we invested time and money wisely and we have the result.

The second wish was, of course, NATO, which was difficult, but we achieved it because we Lithuanians, when we want something, we concentrate, we do and we achieve what we want.

So, at that time, before 2004, I would say we knew about Article Number 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

No one was really taking seriously or caring about Article Number 3, which says that you have to be ready to defend yourself and your allies will come to support you.

So, after 2014, when Russia occupied Crimea, Lithuania started to realize the rapidly changing geopolitical reality, and we started to invest rapidly into our defense.

So, Lithuania's dynamics of investing into our defense in NATO is number one.

Now Lithuania invests into defense 5.38% of our GDP.

So, it's also the number one in the whole NATO.

So, we are doing our homework.

But NATO is an organization which is based on the principle of, let's call it, “three musketeers: one for all, all for one”.

So, we are mighty in NATO.

It is the most successful alliance in human history, and hopefully we will stay like this.

So, it's not just relying on something, as we used to say in the past, that you should be not just a consumer but also a provider.

So, Lithuania is also a provider, and that is how it works.

We do our homework, and we are ready to engage with our partners when other nations are in need.

We follow the requests.

For example, being a fresh member of NATO, we used to be in Afghanistan with the US, taking care of a whole province.

So, even small nations can be useful, bringing different experiences and, so to say, capabilities to use for the joint safety.

All right.

Thank you very much, Excellency, for an excellent presentation and for taking the time to answer all the different questions.

Join me again in a round of applause."

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