On April 24, 2024, the presentation of Prof. Saulius Pivoras’ monograph “Lithuania in Swedish Baltic Politics 1917-1991: From Recognition to Its Renewal” (Kaunas: VDU, 2024) took place at The Valdas Adamkus Presidential Library-Museum. The presentation was attended by the author of the monograph Prof. S. Pivoras, Prof. Dr. J. Vaičenonis, Assoc. Prof. Dr. G. Janauskas, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. S. Rakutienė.

Lithuania’s relations with Sweden throughout the 20th century developed unevenly. Few know the influence Sweden had on the Baltic States’ union projects and on Lithuania’s relations with Poland, Sweden’s stance on the Soviet occupation in 1940, and the liberation from the Soviet state in 1990–1991. The presented book reveals Lithuania’s vulnerability among the Baltic States in the interwar period, the motives of Swedish support for the Vilnius and Klaipėda cases, practically unknown Swedish influence on Lithuania-Poland relations, and untapped Swedish mediation opportunities to normalize them throughout the 4 decades.

Photographer: Andrėja Taranda.