The adviser, Asta Skaisgirytė, told Žinių Radijas that the military and the Ministry of National Defence would still determine the form of Lithuania’s participation. Parliamentary approval would be required if troops were to be deployed to the Strait of Hormuz region, she said.
Skaisgirytė noted that Lithuania was joining the mission as a “responsible ally”.
“We are acting as a responsible ally, not to please anyone,” she said, adding that Lithuania expected allied support for its own security and therefore saw it as natural to contribute when asked by the United States or other partners.
The VGT approved the country’s participation in international efforts to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. The decision was adopted in writing and the meeting was not announced publicly.
Skaisgirytė said council members had not convened in person and were consulted remotely for practical reasons, as it was difficult to gather all senior officials in Lithuania on the same day.
According to the presidency, Lithuania plans to deploy up to 40 troops and civilian defence personnel to the mission. The Government is expected to seek parliamentary approval to expand the Seimas mandate for international operations accordingly.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė’s adviser, Ignas Dobrovolskas, told ELTA on Monday that the Government would consider the State Defence Council’s recommendation before submitting it to parliament for final approval.
The presidency also said Lithuania was prepared to provide logistical support and allow the use of its military infrastructure in response to US needs.
Nausėda said at the end of April that Lithuania had received a US invitation to join the coalition aimed at restoring secure shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict in Iran erupted on 28 February with US and Israeli air strikes, prompting Tehran to block the Strait of Hormuz, the gateway to the Gulf oil and gas industries and a strategic trade route, and sending oil and gas prices sharply higher.
Although traffic briefly resumed after initial US-Iran talks, the waterway has since been disrupted again amid tensions between Tehran and Washington.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused European allies of failing to provide sufficient support in the conflict.