On January 17 Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė met with Deputy Secretary General of NATO Radmila Šekerinska conducting a visit to Lithuania to discuss the European security architecture, increasing defence spending, assistance to Ukraine, and other topics.
“We take national defence very seriously, for which reason today we have taken a historic decision to significantly increase defence spending in 2026-2030. Lithuania is prepared to ensure the security of its citizens with every means possible and we become leader of defence spending worldwide. The enemy is speedily replenishing and developing capabilities, so we cannot afford drowse away,” emphasised Minister.
She pointed out that Europe was in need of more defence spending and to rapidly strengthen defence industry. A unified approach to Alliance security and considerable defence investments send a strategic message to Russia.
The officials also discussed the Baltic Sea security. Minister thanked for the expeditious NATO response to hybrid threats and the launch of the Baltic Sentry activity. D Šakalienė also underscored the necessity to assemble regional experts and develop mutual interpretations of exemptions to the international law of the sea.
Assistance to Ukraine was also the focus at the meeting. Minister expressed an expectation that it will be a priority topic at the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague.
“Ukraine’s security will decide the security of the entire Europe. We have to provide to UKRAine all assistance needed expeditiously because every Russian tank destroyed on the Ukrainian soil is a tank that will never get into our territory,” noted D. Šakalienė.
Deputy Secretary General of NATO Radmila Šekerinska conducting a visit to Lithuania also met with commanders of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group Lithuania and the Iron Wolf Brigade in Rukla.
Photo credits: Sgt Spc K. Kavolėlis / MoD