During a work visit to the United States Vice Minister Margiris Abukevičius met with U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Defense personnel who supervise the U.S. military assistance and coordinate acquisition of weaponry manufactured by the U.S. Vice Minister of Defence discussed the priority arms Lithuania needed, capability development plans and potential U.S. assistance with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Regional Security Mira Resnick and Deputy Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency Jedidiah P. Royal.
“Lithuania has decided to take a resolute and needed step this year: to increase the defence budget to 2.52 % of GDP. It will enable us to ensure stocks for the Lithuanian Armed Forces – a very important aspect to Lithuania in the face of the Russian war against Ukraine. The priorities we highlight at the moment aiming to strengthen the defensive capacity of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Air anti-armor, air defence and long-range multiple rocket launcher systems,” underscored M. Abukevičius.
Other topics covered during the visit were military assistance to Ukraine and further prospects for it. “We must increase the volume of military assistance and to provide Ukraine with heavy military equipment as it faces the Russian aggression,” said Vice Minister.
The United States is one of the key Allies for Lithuania’s security and partners in defence acquisitions that also provides financial assistance to that end.
