On January 19 Ministers of Defence of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia signed a Protocol of Intent during a meeting in Riga, Latvia, on cooperation enhancement through national-level development of efficient counter-mobility measures along the border with hostile states. Another agreement consolidated the mutual intent to develop a HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System capability.
Ministers Arvydas Anušauskas, Andris Sprūds and Hanno Pevkur agreed that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia would all strengthen counter-mobility measures along the eastern border of NATO to reflect each of the countries’ national considerations, geographical conditions and defence capability plans.
“This initiative is launched with a view to create a counter-mobility system to better disrupt and prevent a potential invasion across the border of all three Baltic states who are among the most affected by the threat from Russia. This project for creation of a common counter-mobility barrier in the trilateral Baltic context has a particular importance. The signature will be followed by coordinated practical implementation efforts,” says A. Anušauskas.
During the Friday meeting in Riga the Baltic Ministers of Defence agreed on other areas of further cooperation: a continued development of the HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System capability.
“Mutual Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian defence capability development is a regional security guarantee. Therefore common Baltic HIMARS capability development is highly important. We are intensely collaborating in the negotiations with the U.S. on HIMARS integration, personnel training, system maintenance and service,” says A. Anušauskas.
Baltic Defence Ministers A. Anušauskas, A. Sprūds and H. Pevkur also agreed on shared objectives in the NATO Summit in Washington: regional defence plans, implementation of the Rotational NATO Air Defence Model, commitment from the Allies to continue military assistance to Ukraine.
At the meeting, chairmanship of the Baltic Defence Cooperation Format was officially handed over to from Latvia to Lithuania for 2024.
