A. Eidintas: Together with the Baltic ambassadors in Washington, we went everywhere as a trio

SUMMARY

Ambassador Alfonsas Eidintas says he ended up in the ambassador’s post almost by chance — an opportunity that comes only once in a lifetime. Starting his diplomatic career with such a high-stakes position in the United States was risky, and he wondered whether he would manage the responsibilities well enough. A strong team sent from Vilnius proved crucial; every member of that first team later became an ambassador.
In his conversation with Artūras Jonkus, Eidintas recalls that the first major task was abolishing visas for U.S. citizens — an essential political step. At the time, even Americans of Lithuanian descent needed visas just to visit Lithuania, which felt absurd. By removing visa requirements, Lithuania finally appeared to the U.S. as a fully free nation.

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