Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas met with Germany’s Permanent Representative to NATO Dr Detlef Wächter on the margins of the Baltic Military Conference. They addressed security and defence in the region, progress on readiness for stationing the German Brigade in Lithuania, air defence and defence spending, the upcoming NATO Summit, assistance to Ukraine and other topics.
“Germany’s decision to station a Brigade in Lithuania is one of the most substantial practical steps in strengthening resilience in the region. This sends a clear signal that Alliance defence begins right here and right now. On our part, we are doing everything necessary to make sure the Brigade reaches Full Operational Capability on time, in full scope and the best conditions possible. The Rūdninkai Training Area is developed as mapped out in the plan, while Phase I is even progressing ahead of schedule,” said Minister R. Kaunas.
“Lithuania is directly faced with the russian and Belarusian hybrid, therefore we take our homework seriously and strengthen air de fence capabilities. We have also took steps to simply the decision-making process, established Restricted Airspace Areas and ensured quick response to air threats,” said Minister.
At the meeting, the officials also discussed the agenda of the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara. According to Minister, Europe had to step up the defence spending more quickly to ensure a fairer burden-sharing among the Allies. The enduring support to Ukraine was also noted as an important priority.
The German Permanent Representative to NATO visited Rūdninkai during the stay in Lithuania where he familiarized with the progress made on the development on infrastructure for the German Brigade and met with its leadership in Lithuania.
Minister of National Defence also met with NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Aurelio Cologrande, Adjutant-General of the Pennsylvania National Guard Major General John R. Pippy, former U.S. Chief of Staff of the Army Retired General Jim McConville, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Laura K. Cooper.
