About 50 people protested outside the US Embassy in Vilnius on Wednesday evening, condemning Washington’s actions in Venezuela.
The demonstration was organised by left-wing groups including Luna16, Demonstruokimės (Let’s Demonstrate) and Vilne Bund, along with other movements.
Protesters chanted slogans such as “No to plundering nations”, “Hands off Venezuela” and “We do not need another Iraq. We do not need another Afghanistan.” Others shouted, “While the US is invading, the EU is just spectating”.
Some demonstrators also chanted “Shame on Trump”, “Shame on von der Leyen”, “Shame on the president” and “Shame on the parliament”.
Placards carried by protesters read “No kings, stop Trump”, “Iraq 2.0”, “Deport Trump”, and “Venezuela is not your property! The whole world is not your property!”
One of the protest organisers, Ignas Jonikas, a 23-year-old student affiliated with Luna16, said participants opposed what he described as US imperialism.
“We gathered to show that we do not agree with Donald Trump’s actions or with American imperialist tendencies, with the idea that they can do whatever they want with other sovereign nations,” Jonikas told reporters.
He drew parallels with Lithuania’s own security concerns, saying foreign interference would be unwelcome even if it targeted domestic political leaders.
Jonikas also criticised Lithuania’s political response to developments in Venezuela.
“There are no clear positions. There is an attempt to avoid taking a serious stance,” he said.
Another protester, Gvidas Stankus, a 20-year-old student, said he joined the demonstration to express “opposition to imperialist violence”.
“Let’s not deceive ourselves that this is about democracy or human freedom,” Stankus said. “Trump himself said the goal is oil, capital and control,” citing past US military actions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
The protest followed unexpected US airstrikes against several targets in Venezuela early Saturday, after months of military and economic pressure.
US President Donald Trump said Venezuela’s authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife had been flown to New York. Maduro appeared in court on Monday and pleaded not guilty.
Trump said Washington would “run” Venezuela during a transition period. Maduro’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, was named interim president.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said Monday that Vilnius supported a statement issued Sunday by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, saying that international law and the United Nations Charter must be respected in all circumstances, but failing to condemn the US attack on Venezuela.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė implicitly endorsed the action on Wednesday, saying that Lithuania respected the Venezuelan people’s right to elect a democratic government and determine their own future.
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