The NATO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Brussels on February 15 addressed preparation for the NATO Summit due to take place in Vilnius in June. Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas underscored that Lithuania and other countries in the region will aim for practical deliverables on enhancing the Alliance Forward Defence and Allied commitments to the eastern flank of NATO.
“We have to present concrete results regrading deterrence and fence of the Alliance at the NATO Summit in Vilnius. That includes decisions on regional plans and air defence,” said Minister A. Anušauskas.
One of the aims is enhancement of Allied air defence capabilities in Lithuania alongside the ongoing NATO Air Policing Mission. The enhancement would encompass not only additional fighter aircraft but also deployment of ground-based air defence systems in the region. That would make a vital additional Allied contribution in a boost of the regional security.
Minister underscored when presenting the idea on behalf of the Baltic states that “Lithuania finds it very important to ensure a smooth transition from the peacetime NATO Air Policing Mission to air defence. We have to test it out in practice during peacetime. The enhancement of NATO air defence would facilitate a quick adaptation of air defence capabilities to the changing security environment and ability to respond immediately to any provocation or aggression.”
Minister focused also on the update of defence investment commitment that could be agreed on at the Vilnius Summit.
“We have to agree on strengthening defence industry capabilities and an ambitious long-term commitment to increase the defence spending. 2 percent of GDP has to be the floor and Lithuania stands ready to discuss larger commitments,” said A. Anušauskas.
Ministers of Defence also agreed on the political guidance for defence planning. The documents sets out NATO level of ambition and directions for the long-term capability planning of the Allies.
On the margins of the Ministerial A. Anušauskas met with Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren and Minister of National Defence of Poland Mariusz Blaszczak. A separate session was held by Defence Ministers of the Baltic states and eFP framework nations in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – Germany, United Kingdom and Canada.
Photo courtesy of NATO
