November 9, Minister of National Defence attended the Prague Defence Summit, the event is organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) brings together leaders, analysts, representatives of defence, industry and media.
At the plenary session on Rethinking European Defence Requirements and Capacity Minister discussed European deterrence and defence infrastructure with First Deputy Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic František Šulc, Commander HQ Multinational Corps Northeast (HQ MNC NE) Lt Gen Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart and Chief of Defence of Greece General Dimitrios Choupis.
Minister L. Kasčiūnas underlined peace through strength in his address and pointed out Europe’s responsibility to step up its defence capabilities significantly, as well as the necessity to energize defence industry.
“2% of GDP defence spending is history, we have to think about 3% spending floor. Lithuania is in the league of three percent and will not stop at that,” said Minister.
He also underscored that the United States remained a strategic partner and EU efforts to strengthen its security had to contribute to the mutual efforts of strengthening the Euro-Atlantic security and to ad to NATO rather than contest it.
When addressing the imperative to support Ukraine’s defence industry and ensure its integration with the European defence industry, Minister accentuated the benefits of the deepening cooperation and trade with Ukraine’s business that intensely applies lessons of war which Lithuania and Ukraine would enjoy alike.
The Prague Defence Summit majorly focused of defence industry cooperation, sharing new technologies and military application, as well as the Indo-Pacific role in European defence capability development.
