On June 7-8 Vice Minister of National Defence Karolis Aleksa took part in an informal EU Defence Ministers’ meeting in Cyprus. The meeting addressed the initiatives for strengthening the European defence, support to Ukraine, safety of navigation, and countermeasures against the Russian shadow fleet. Another topic discussed was strengthening the transatlantic bond and defence industry.
The European security architecture is of today is developed in four directions: strengthening of the air defence capabilities, development of the defence industry, ensuring the continued support to Ukraine, and the transatlantic bond. The four strategic areas remain the key priority of our common security policy thus shaping the environment for a lasting stability in the continent,” Vice Minister K. Aleksa said.
He underscored that Russia was the overriding long-term threat for the European and euro-atlantic security, as well as the key reason why Europe must restore and build up its defensive capabilities. Which is why it as critical to pace up the European initiatives for strengthening defence, especially the ones targeted at defending the external EU border from russia and Belarus: Eastern Flank Watch, the Drone Wall (European Drone Defence Initiative), countermobility development, and counter-drone defence.
In the discussion on russia’s shadow fleet, Vice Minister noted that Lithuania was firmly in support of every EU partner that prevented shadow fleet ships. “The ships evade the sanctions, sail under false flags, and generate income for russia’s war in Ukraine. Their arrest and withholding is implementation of the law of the sea, therefore we have to continue applying all measures required to prevent activities of the shadow fleet in the Baltic Sea,” said K. Aleksa.
When discussing support to Ukraine, K. Aleksa pointed out that Ukraine was a critical element in the European security architecture, therefore the loan mechanism for Ukraine had to be implemented urgently, as well as the country’s speedy EU integration.
Photo credits: event organisers
