On March 31 Vice Minister of National Defence Žilvinas Tomkus was on a visit to Canada where he engaged high-ranking officials on the objectives of the Euro-Atlantic security and defence policy in light of the Russian war in Ukraine. According to Vice Minister, discussion with such Allies as Canada is especially important ahead of the NATO Summit in Vilnius which Lithuania expects to result in significant collective defence deliverables.
“We highly appreciate the tight cooperation with Canada in security and defence. We welcome Canada’s NATO enhanced Froward Presence leadership in Latvia. Ahead of the Vilnius Summit, we have deterrence and defence agenda objectives set out that we need to implement, we need forward defence in the eastern Allies,” said Vice Minister Ž. Tomkus after the meetings in Ottava.
Vice Minister met with Deputy Minister of National Defence of Canada Bill Matthews, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Brian May, Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence of the House of commons John McKay and Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada for foreign and security affairs Jordan Zed.
According to Vice Minister Ž. Tomkus, Canada is a vital link in the transatlantic bond and its contribution is likewise important in the implementation of the forward defence decisions adopted at the NATO Summit in Madrid last year. Vice Minister discussed preparations for the NATO Summit in Vilnius, new NATO’s defence plans and assistance to Ukraine in Canada. Among the points underscored was the necessity for a new and more ambitious NATO defence spending agreement.
“We have always seen Canada as an important partner in assistance to Ukraine. On our behalf, we are mapping out further assistance packages. We will continue the endeavor for as long as it takes,” underscored Ž. Tomkus at the meetings.
