Mr George W. Bush, making the first ever visit by a US president, said this morning Lithuania and the other six former communist states newly admitted to NATO will inject fresh life into the alliance.
Accepting Lithuania's highest award this morning, Mr Bush said: "After all Lithuania represents, to me, courage of people standing in the face of tyranny and demanding freedom".
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus declared himself "overjoyed" at the US leader's visit and at NATO's vote Thursday to admit the Baltic republic - which won independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 - into the alliance conceived to deter Moscow.
The vote "proves that we are ready to join the free world and fulfill all the responsibilities" of membership in the North Altantic Treaty Organization, in theory at its 2004 summit, said Mr Adamkus.
The Lithuanian leader then formally bestowed the Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great, Lithuania's highest award, on the US president, pinning its ornate star medal just below the US flag pin shining from his guest's lapel.
"The NATO alliance will be stronger with Lithuania's presence. Not only will you help militarily but, as importantly, your presence will help lift and invigorate the spirit of the European North-Atlantic alliance," said Mr Bush.
During a five-day European tour, the US leader has been hammering home his point that the admission of seven ex-communist states in NATO's largest-ever expansion will counterbalance older powers like France and Germany.
Those US allies have been openly skeptical of Bush's repeated threats to disarm Iraq by force if necessary, and he has accused them of appeasing a regime he likens to Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union under Stalin.
"This is a great day for Lithuania. It shows that Lithuania's commitment to freedom, religious tolerance, shows that Lithuania's courage is being rewarded by membership in one of the great alliances ever formed," said Mr Bush.
"I'm proud of your accomplishments and ... proud to call you friend," said the US president, who was to make a lightning visit to Bucharest later in the day and then return to Washington.
Mr Bush held separate meetings with Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas and chairman of the parliament Mr Arturas Paulauskas, followed by a one-on-one with Mr Adamkus.
That historic meeting was followed by a half-hour talk with Mr Adamkus, Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga and Estonian President Mr Arnold Ruutel.
AFP