LRT English Newsletter: Team America’s rules

Lithuania faces mounting pressure to reconsider its membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC) amid growing tensions with the United States. The country, which hosts U.S. troops under a long-standing defense agreement, is being urged to distance itself from the court, which has been a target of U.S. criticism for decades. The situation comes as part of a broader U.S. effort to influence the alignment of NATO members with its foreign policy priorities, particularly under former President Donald Trump's administration. A recent Department of Defense questionnaire sent to Lithuania and other NATO states seeks to assess how well these countries align with U.S. strategic interests, raising concerns about the potential impact on national sovereignty and legal frameworks. The U.S. stance toward the ICC stems from its view that the court oversteps its authority by asserting jurisdiction over non-member states. This position has led to diplomatic friction, especially as the U.S. has sought to dissuade countries from joining the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC. While Washington has not explicitly threatened to remove its troops from Lithuania, it is reportedly seeking assurances that any U.S. personnel stationed there will not face prosecution by the ICC. This pressure has intensified as Lithuania continues to cooperate with the court, including referring allegations of Russian war crimes to the ICC, which resulted in an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The court also recently launched an investigation into Belarus over suspected forced deportations of political opponents, following a request from Lithuania. Despite these developments, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to remaining a member of the ICC. He has expressed openness to negotiating bilateral agreements with the U.S. to address concerns without formally withdrawing from the court. Such talks could aim to establish clearer boundaries regarding the jurisdiction of the ICC over U.S. forces stationed in Lithuania, while preserving the country’s legal standing within the international system. Separately, conservative lawmakers in Lithuania are escalating efforts to challenge the influence of religious communities, particularly the Council of Muslim Religious Communities of Lithuania. Conservative MP Dalia Asanavičiūtė-Gružauskienė has requested that the National Security and Defence Committee investigate the council, alleging that it has foreign connections and that immigrants are displacing the country’s indigenous Muslim Tartar population from mosques. Her claims follow a similar petition by right-wing MP Vytautas Sinica, who has called for the Kaunas Mosque to be returned to the Tatar community. The mosque, originally gifted during the interwar period as recognition of the Tatars' contribution to Lithuania’s independence, is currently managed by a diverse group of worshippers, including individuals from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. The mosque’s mufti has denied allegations of ethnic exclusion, stating that access is based on religious affiliation rather than nationality. Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas has joined other local leaders in opposing new mosque construction, arguing that immigrants should remain in Lithuania only temporarily. This sentiment reflects broader societal anxieties about migration and integration, even as the city grapples with a shortage of religious spaces. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has proposed a controversial policy requiring migrant workers to leave the country for six months every two years and restrict their ability to bring family members. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from labor unions, who argue that it would destabilize the workforce and discourage skilled migrants from settling in Lithuania. As these issues unfold, the intersection of foreign policy, domestic politics, and social cohesion continues to shape Lithuania’s path forward, with implications extending beyond its borders. The coming weeks will likely see further negotiations between Lithuanian authorities and U.S. representatives, as well as continued debate over the role of religion in public life.