Vice Minister of National Defence Margiris Abukevičius virtually attended a Macdonald-Laurier Institute (Canada) event, presented the security situation in the Baltic Sea region, and discussed the cooperation between the Baltic states and Canada focusing on the importance of NATO presence in the region.
According to M. Abukevičius, deterrence required concrete actions, that is why Canadian role and presence in the region were vital. It is also important that Canada and NATO members will participate in the Ukraine Reform Conference to be held this year in Vilnius.
“Canada is an important Ukraine supporter. We are united in the QUINT format which is very important for coordination of our assistance to Ukraine. We expect high-level representation on behalf of EU and NATO member states, including Canada, at the Ukraine Reform Conference in July,” Vice Minister of National Defence said.
The QUINT format Vice Minister M. Abukevičius pointed out coordinates assistance to Ukraine’s defence sector, it is formed by Ministers of Defence of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Lithuania and Poland and is chaired by the UK.
Canada is an important ally in the Baltic states defence. It is currently the framework nation of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Latvia. In 2014 a Canadian Air Force Detachment was policing the Baltic skies in the NATO Air Policing Mission conducted from Šiauliai, and three Canadian officers have served in the NATO Force Integration Unit in Lithuania since 2015.
