Dear Fellow Citizens and Esteemed Lithuanian Friends,

As the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Republic of Lithuania, it is a great honor for me to represent our country in this friendly and allied Nation, with which we share deep-rooted historical ties and strong relations based on mutual respect.

Diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Lithuania were formalized with the Treaty of Friendship signed in 1930. Türkiye’s refusal to recognize the occupation of Lithuania in 1940 and its immediate recognition of Lithuania’s independence in 1991 have further solidified our friendship.

Today, our bilateral relations with Lithuania, a NATO ally, continue to grow stronger in all fields. Türkiye maintains its active support for the security of Lithuania and the Baltic region.

In the economic sphere, Lithuania is our largest trading partner in the Baltics. Our bilateral trade and investments have been steadily increasing, gaining momentum particularly after the meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) held in Vilnius in 2020.

As our bonds further deepened through cultural activities and tourism in recent years, Türkiye has become one of the top holiday destinations favored by our Lithuanian friends.

The Tatar and Karaim communities, who have been present in Lithuania for centuries, are important elements enriching our shared cultural heritage. We attach great importance to preserving this heritage and continuing our efforts to pass our historical ties with these communities on to future generations.

At a time of increasing global challenges, we remain committed to enhancing our bilateral relations with our NATO ally Lithuania in all areas, with faith in our shared values and a prosperous future.

In line with the vision set by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we are ready to enhance our cooperation with Lithuania on regional and international platforms, within the framework of our diplomatic efforts aimed at strengthening regional peace, security, and stability, as well as increasing prosperity.

I have assumed my duties as of July 29th, 2025. During my tenure, it will be my guiding principle to further strengthen our bilateral relations and friendship with valuable contributions from my fellow citizens and our Lithuanian friends in this beautiful country.

It will remain a priority of our Embassy to protect the rights and interests of all our citizens including students and business people in Lithuania and to provide you with the best possible service, particularly in consular matters.

Needless to say, our Embassy’s doors will always remain open to our fellow citizens and Lithuanian friends.

On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I extend my warmest respect and best wishes to you all.

Esra Toplu

Ambassador