Analyse
Energy independence reduces vulnerability to external pressures, such as supply disruptions or geopolitical coercion, which can threaten a nation's stability. Lithuania's LNG terminal, inaugurated in 2014, was explicitly framed as a national security measure to diversify energy sources and reduce dependence on Russian gas. Grybauskaitė, as Lithuania's president at the time, consistently emphasized this dual economic and security rationale.
Achtergrond
Lithuania's Klaipėda LNG terminal was built to break Gazprom's monopoly and enhance energy security after historical supply cutoffs (e.g., 2006). The project was part of a broader EU strategy to mitigate energy dependence on single suppliers, particularly Russia.
Samenvatting verdict
Dalia Grybauskaitė's statement accurately reflects the strategic importance of energy independence for national security.