On April 19 Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas was on a formal visit in Estonia. He discussed regional security, bilateral cooperation and the oncoming NATO Heads of State meeting with his Estonian counterpart Minister of Defence Kalle Laanet. After the meeting Minister A. Anušauskas was invited to see the Estonian military infrastructure.
During the trip to Estonia’s largest military training area in Tapa Minister A. Anušauskas was shown the training conditions the Estonian Defence Forces have for major exercises in the country’s base and Estonian military infrastructure.
Lithuanian and Estonian Ministers of Defence addressed the provocative Russian activity on the borders of Ukraine when discussing regional security.
“We have been seeing provocative actions undertaken by Russia on the border with Ukraine and in the annexed Crimea. We are observing the military force buildup and a qualitative growth of military potential achieved by rea-arming and training the force. We must be staunch and united in backing Ukraine’s territorial integrity and inviolability of its borders,” A. Anušauskas said to his Estonian counterpart.
While in Estonia Minister A. Anušauskas seized the opportunity to officially invite Minister of Defence K. Laanet to the Baltic Defence Ministerial planned to be held in Lithuania in May.
Lithuania presides over the Baltic Defence Cooperation this year. The areas of most intense cooperation are the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission, service-level cooperation, and joint training events. Trilateral and bilateral projects, such as the Baltic Naval Squadron, Baltic Defence College, development of the regional maritime situation awareness capability, have been ongoing for years. The Baltic countries are also synchronizing capabilities, coordinating joint procurements, and organizing joint exercises and training.
Photo credits: Ministry of Defence of Estonia
