Foreign secretary Liz Truss and Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis have today agreed to greater security and economic cooperation between their two countries.

They cited growing aggression from “malign regimes” as a motivation.

Their signing of a Joint Declaration marks 100 years of bilateral relations between the two nations and helps further the UK’s global network of liberty.

The government say the declaration will build on the current defence cooperation the countries share as NATO allies and will increase resistance to threats, including from Russia and China.

Truss highlighted Lithuania in her speech at Mansion House last month, naming it as a country which China had tried to bully economically. Today she praised Lithuania for standing up to this coercion.

Lithuania has also allied itself against Russia, whose invasion of Ukraine is ongoing.

Speaking at the signing of the declaration, foreign secretary Liz Truss said: “The UK and Lithuania are two countries which believe in freedom and sovereignty, and who stand up to authoritarian regimes in Europe and across the world. We stand together with Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal, barbaric war.

“I have immense admiration and respect for Lithuania and I am delighted that today we are deepening our defence and security relationship, and forging greater opportunities for trade and investment through this Joint Declaration.”

The UK has imposed sanctions on Russia.

The UK government claimed that this, coupled with Lithuania’s decision to cut off all Russian oil and gas, are helping to “cripple Putin’s war machine”.

The new Declaration also seeks to build closer trade opportunities, counter organised crime, tackle climate change and promote people-to-people links between the UK and Lithuania.