Prime Minister: NATO is an essential guarantor of Lithuania’s security

On her working visit to Brussels, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and has discussed security challenges to the region and the Alliance, relations with Russia, and other relevant matters.

'NATO, as a collective defence Alliance, is an essential guarantor of Lithuania's security. In the current security environment, the presence of allies in our region is vital,' said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister has thanked for NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence and the Air Policing mission contributing to the security of Lithuania and the entire region.

'It is important to further strengthen NATO's defence and deterrence capabilities with a view to ensuring the Alliance's ability to provide rapid reinforcement in times of crisis or conflict. Those measures are of particular importance in deterring Russia that poses the most serious threat to the security and stability of our region and of the Alliance as a whole. Russia's continuing aggression and the deteriorating situation in Belarus remind us that we must also constantly strengthen deterrence and defence,' said the Prime Minister.

According to Prime Minister Šimonytė, Lithuania does not change the principle of allocating 2 percent of the country's GDP for defence, and plans to increase investment in security and defence to 2.5 percent by 2030.

Lithuania welcomes NATO's open door policy proposals related to partnerships, and particularly, support to Ukraine and Georgia.

The forthcoming Alliance meeting, to be held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on 14 June, has also been discussed.

Prime Minister Šimonytė has thanked NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg for supporting the forthcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius in 2023.