Will Trump Deal With Belarusian NPP Issue?

Lithuania expects US assistance in solving the problem of building a nuclear power plant in Astravets.

Political scientist from Lithuania Marius Antonovich told this in an interview with the Charter97.org:

- How can the visit of President of the United States of America Donald Trump to Poland affect our region?

- In my opinion, the the official visit of US President Donald Trump to Warsaw will primarily have the following effects. First, Donald Trump publicly and very clearly confirmed the US military commitments towards the North Atlantic Alliance, Article 5 of the NATO Charter and the protection of our region. I think this will in some way be able to scare away Russia and will serve as a stabilization.

Secondly, the US expressed support for the Three Seas Initiative, and, in this regard, we can hope for a more accelerated development of our region, especially in the areas of infrastructure and energy.

- During her visit to Warsaw and a meeting with Donald Tramp, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite expressed her position on the construction of the Belarusian NPP in Astravets and Russia's efforts regarding the second branch of the Nord Stream gas pipeline. How convincing her arguments were, in your opinion?

- It is too early to predict how much the President's arguments were or, on the contrary, were not convincing. However, it can be expected that the US will finally take the construction of the second branch of the Nord Stream seriously, as Washington sees a threat to Ukraine and the energy security of Central and Eastern Europe. Also, the US objects against this project on economic grounds. Nevertheless, I would not have hoped for much support from the White House for Lithuania with regard to the construction of a nuclear power plant in Astravets. So far, Vilnius remains alone in the world on this issue.

- What can Dalia Grybauskaite expect from the US after the meeting with Donald Trump?

- I think that the President expects an unequivocal and very clear declaration of the US President about the obligations with regard to the North Atlantic Alliance and the eastern flank of NATO, coupled with the promises to strengthen military assistance to the region. Therefore, the meeting in Warsaw can be considered successful and fruitful in terms of expectations of Vilnius.