Cooperation with Latvia and Estonia is one of the main priorities of Lithuania’s international cooperation. The Baltic co-operation formats and working group meetings ensure close co-operation between the Baltic States in order to maintain long-term NATO and Allied decisions on deterrence in the region and to represent the security interests of the Baltic States in both NATO and EU formats.
The Baltic States are most active in co-operation in the fields of NATO air policing, regional airspace surveillance, and development of regional marine awareness capabilities, training and education of officers, joint exercises. The aim is to ensure the greatest possible interaction between the Baltic forces and their interaction with the Allied forces. Tripartite and bilateral projects have been running for many years – the Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON), the Baltic Defence College (BALDEFCOL), the development of a regional maritime situational awareness capability (MSA), and coordinated actions to strengthen regional air defence.
On 29 January 2013, a new trilateral Memorandum of Understanding between Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia was signed, which establishes the structures for defence co-operation between the Baltic States. Meetings of the Baltic Defence Ministers and Chiefs of Defence and Chiefs of Defence Staff take place twice a year. Directors of defence policy, commanders of individual forces and experts of various levels also meet on a regular basis. In 2022, Estonia will hold the presidency of the Baltic States, in 2023, it will be held by Latvia, and in 2024 – by Lithuania.
