The United States’ decision to abandon its plans to deploy a missile defence shield in Central Europe was met in Lithuania with caution and with a doze of pessimism.

The Prime Minster Kubilius stated to Bloomberg that Obama Administration should know a simple fact: the Central Europeans and the Balts need reassurance of their security.  Kubilius said to Bloomberg Eastern Europe needs “a gesture which would show that what was intended to be done by the previous administration is going to be done maybe in another way, but which would show real and practical involvement of the United States in the building of security”.

Lithuanian Minister of Defence Rasa Jukneviciene said to BNS quoted by alfa.lt said: “We strongly supported the project because it would have boosted our security. The region cannot be an exception among NATO’s other regions, and its defence suppose to be as important as that of other regions. Information that was publicly available suggests that Russia was the country that particularly opposed the project. Naturally, many people draw conclusions that this has to do with Russia”.

Vygandas Usackas, the Minister of Foreign Affairs that “The political message they’re sending is not the best one.”  The Minister stated that he will meet the US Secretary of State next week in New York and they will talk about this issue.

The Chairperson of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs, MP Audronis Azubalis was blunter: “The reason that the missile defence shield is being abandoned because of plans to build a new modern defence system sounds unbelievable. It will only be created around 2018. It seems to me that these actions simply reveal the attitude of the new US administration towards the Eastern European region.” Ziniu radijas quoted him.

Marius Laurinavicius, deputy editor of Lietuvos Rytas daily said to Ziniu radijas that even though he new that this news will become official, he was expecting that it will be communicated in more subtle way.  Clumsy timing (today is 70 years since the Soviet Union attacked Poland), and no coordination with the Eastern European partners showed that Obama’s Administration is less sensitive to the Eastern Europeans.  Unfortunately, such communication of this message let the Russians believe that they achieved one more victory in Eastern Europe.

P.S. The Bush Administration was criticised that it made many enemies.  However, Obama Administration’s actions might loose the USA its staunchest supporters.  It is very unlikely that USA acquired a ‘new friend’ in the yes of Kremlin, it only reinforced their conviction that USA is getting weaker.  Russia is playing only by ‘zero sum’ game and it is only acknowledges power.  Therefore, it seams that the Easter Europeans and the Balts have reason to be worried.

Another worrying assumption is that the latest Washington’s move was a result of Obama’s last trip to Moscow.  Who can deny that a deal between Moscow and Washington was struck during his last trip – you give us access to Afghanistan we abandon our missile programme in Central Europe.  If it is true, it would be extremely dangerous development.