“The United States understands that if we do not stop Russia in Ukraine, NATO Allies can be next, including the Baltics. Therefore U.S. and Allied presence in the region remains a key security and defence guarantee in the Baltic region,” Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas states after meeting with Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth in Washington.
Minister thanked the U.S. officials for the U.S. decisions that strengthened Lithuania’s security, for the reinforcement deployed to Lithuania and the other Baltic states.
“We aim to have a rotational U.S. force and capability presence in our country on a persistent basis. It is our key priority. The U.S. support contributes significantly to the further development of capabilities and gap filling, enabling us to improve readiness, strengthen regional defence and, naturally, deterrence,” Minister of National Defence underscored.
The U.S. Secretaries of armed services thanked Lithuania for the significant support it render to Ukraine and for the leadership in the process – the first shipment of Lithuanian military assistance arrived in Ukraine even before the war began. Gratitude was also express for hosting the deployed U.S. military personnel and improving their service conditions and infrastructure.
Minister also had a meeting with Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Senator Jack Reed. A. Anušauskas underscored to him the importance of the U.S. financial support to the Baltic states and the necessity to put it into legal acts.
“Adoption of a piece of legislation that embeds a long-term financial U.S. support to the Baltic states would primarily strengthen the U.S. relations with the Baltics, our defensive capabilities, while also deterring Russia from being delusional about transferring the war into NATO territory,” said Minister.
