On May 27 Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas with Minister of Defence of Latvia Artis Pabriks and Minister of Defence of Estonia Kalle Laanet at a Baltic Defence Ministerial in Saaremaa Island discussed potential ways to further strengthen and put to use our capabilities to ensure the overall European security.
“We have discussed preparations for the June NATO Summit in Madrid were the Baltic states seek substantive decisions for enhancement of defence on the eastern flank of the Alliance. We expect implementation of the forward defence concept which is based on forward brigades comprising the enhanced Forward Presence battalions with supplementing forces in each of the Baltic states. We wish to see an understanding of it in other NATO Allies too,” says A. Anušauskas.
A Baltic defence agreement was agreed on at the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian Defence Ministers’ meeting as well in response to the current security situation. It will be ratified at the respective parliaments once the interagency negotiations are completed. According to A. Anušauskas, Minister agreed to further coordinate their actions to ensure the agreement is signed shortly. “We all understand the importance of a speedy and fluent military support to each other in the time of peace, crises and conflict. We have taken and important step today towards a closer defence cooperation.”
During the meeting in Saaremaa Island Ministers signed a communication on cooperation which highlighted a shared perception of the threat of Russia and the aim to join forces in NATO and EU formats in support to Ukraine.
Ministers also praised the successful conduct of ongoing Baltic defence cooperation projects. The most intense cooperation in the recent years is seen in officer training at the Baltic Defence College, development of maritime situational awareness capability, the concept of military airspace block and long-range rocket artillery capabilities.
