On February 8 Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas discussed the Alliance’s political dialogue with Russia and ways to strengthen deterrence and defence with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana who is visiting Lithuania.
According to the Minister, NATO can have a dialogue with Russia on relevant issues, however, no negotiations and concessions are possible about the core principles, deterrence and defence and the open doors policy.
“NATO can not rule out any scenario – the Alliance needs to stand ready for collective defence in any region. That is why we welcome the NATO decisions to heighten force alert level and take other measures to increase NATO readiness to respond swiftly,” said A. Anušauskas.
In the conversation with M. Geoana the Minister also expressed his delight about the unity and solidarity that Germany had demonstrated earlier in the week with the decision to deploy additional troops to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania.
A. Anušauskas says that NATO needs to have the capability in place to counter the increase threat from Russia and further strengthen deterrence and defence in the eastern flank of the Alliance.
Photo credits: MoD/A.Pliadis.
