May 21, Friday, Ministers of Defence of the Baltic states will hold a meeting in Šiauliai, Lithuanian Air Force Base.
Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas, Minister of Defence of Latvia Artis Pabriks and Minister of Defence of Estonia Kalle Laanet will discuss regional security and cooperation in the European Union and NATO.
Ministers will also consolidate the areas of a closer cooperation between the Baltic states with a joint communique.
Lithuania chairs the Baltic Defence Cooperation in 2021. Areas of the most intense Baltic defence cooperation are joint officer training at the Baltic Defence College, NATO Air Policing, naval forces, and joint exercises in the recent years.
The countries also synchronise capability planning, coordinate joint procurement, organise joint training events, exercises, seminars, and carry out cooperation of individual armed services. One more important priority in the Baltic cooperation is development of simplified procedures for deployment and movement of allied capabilities in the Baltic states.
Media advisory:
Media will have following opportunities during the Baltic Defence Ministers meeting:
1405 hrs: signature of the Baltic Defence Ministers’ joint communique.
1410 hrs: brief Baltic Defence Ministers’ statements (Q&A not scheduled).
To cover the event, media representatives should register until Thursday, May 20, noon, at [email protected] (please send your full name, name of your media organisation, and contacts – cell phone no., e-mail address).
Freelance reporters and foreign media representatives will need accreditation given by the MoD Strategic Communication and Public Relations Department, e-mail [email protected] Please apply until May 19, 1700 hrs. Information required: attach a filled out questionnaire form, copies of a personal ID document and confirmation letter from the media outlet.
Registered media representatives should arrive at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai (Lakūnų g. 3, at the main HQ entrance) on May 21 until 1345 hrs
Media representatives will need to respect the COVID-19 precautionary requirements at the event: wear face masks/covers, take care of the hygiene and socially distance.
