March 21, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte conducted a visit to Lithuania and met with Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė. The officials discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine, the assistance of the European Union and NATO member states to Ukraine, further sanctions to the aggressor states Russia and Belarus, the response to the deteriorating security situation in Europe, and strengthening of the entire NATO eastern flank, as well as energy prices.
I. Šimonytė thanked Prime Minister M. Rutte for the Dutch contributions to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence force in Lithuania and for the decision to step up Dutch troop contribution in Lithuania thus significantly strengthening the security of the eastern flank of NATO. Prime Minister of Lithuania emphasized the necessity to transition from NATO deterrence to defence strategy in our region.
I. Šimonytė pointed out the imperative to relentlessly support Ukraine in every way possible as it fought not only for its own independence but also for peace and stability across Europe. She said it was particularly important to ensure tighter coordination in the international community, to continue building pressure on Russia and its help, Belarus, to expand and tightened sanctions against them.
“The greatest political support Ukraine could get would be a message from the European Union the EU candidate status procedures were accelerated,” underscored Prime Minister.
Other topics discussed were the hybrid attack Aliaksandr Lukashenka had launched against Lithuania and the whole EU by instrumentalising illegal migration, the situation in Moldova and Georgia, and China’s challenge to rules-based international order.
Information credits: Lithuanian Government; photo credits: MoD archive.
