Estonia–Lithuania relations

Estonia–Lithuania relations refer to the bilateral relations between Estonia and Lithuania. Estonia has an embassy in Vilnius. Lithuania has an embassy in Tallinn. Both countries are situated in the Baltic region and are the full members of the European Union and NATO.

Estonia–Lithuania relations

Estonia	Lithuania

Lithuanian Embassy in Tallinn

Estonian Embassy in Vilnius

History

Prior to the 20th century

The active struggle of Lithuanians against the Teutonic Order prevented the Livonian Order from enslaving the Estonians (and Latvians) and encouraged their resistance. The victory of the Lithuanians in the Battle of Šiauliai (1236) encouraged the Saaremaa residents to revolt, and in the Battle of Durbe (1260) - other Estonians too. 1270 In the Battle of Karuse (Western Estonia), the Lithuanian army defeated the army of Livonian Germans and Danes from Northern Estonia. In 1561, Southern Estonia was given and annexed by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania by the Treaty of Vilnius, from 1569 to 1629 it belonged to the Duchy of Uždauguvis, an autonomous province of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.^[1]

Modern relations

Lithuania and Estonia officially established diplomatic relations on 2 March 1921. Following the Soviet occupation after the World War II, both states continued the diplomatic service in exile. After the independence restoration, the relations were re-established de facto on 16 June 1991.

Agreements

Many of the agreements between the two countries are trilateral with Latvia as the three Baltic states.

In 2004, the free trade agreement signed in 1992 between the Baltic states was superseded when all three countries joined the European Union.^[2]

In 2017, the two countries along with Latvia, signed a rail agreement. The agreement is a precondition for a possible high speed railway between the states.^[3]

the European Union and NATO

Both countries became members of the European Union and NATO in 2004.

Resident diplomatic missions

• Estonia has an embassy in Vilnius.
• Lithuania has an embassy in Tallinn.

See also

• Foreign relations of Estonia
• Foreign relations of Lithuania
• 2004 enlargement of the European Union
• Estonians in Lithuania