Lithuania defence minister says country would not be alone in war scenario

VILNIUS - Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said on Wednesday that Lithuania would not be left alone in the event of war, following opposition claims that Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene had not outlined plans for defence without US support.

"We have a treaty with NATO today, Article 5 is in effect, no one has revoked it, and I believe there is no need for such questioning. (...) And if, God forbid, something did not work, a national defence plan exists. The equipment we have acquired (...) will not disappear either," Kaunas told reporters.

"There will be no such thing as us defending ourselves alone. There really, really will not be such a thing," the minister emphasised.

According to Kaunas, alternative solutions were clearly presented during a meeting of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence.

"All angles were identified, possible and impossible, and various hypothetical scenarios were also listed," the minister said.

Kaunas said the military is doing its job and preparing for potential scenarios.

"We have our plans, we have our understanding, we see the changing situation, and we are preparing and adapting to it," he said.

The minister noted that Ukraine is currently defending itself effectively, suggesting Lithuania could also successfully ensure its own defence.

"When the war started, there was talk that Ukraine would fall in three days. Today we see that Ukraine has not fallen. (...) Yes, there are setbacks, yes, there are various discussions and political moments, but we see that countries defend themselves, they have their plans, and Lithuania is certainly no exception," Kaunas said.

However, when asked how long Lithuania could defend itself alone, the minister did not provide a specific timeframe.

In a January interview with the news portal Delfi, the prime minister said that in the event of a NATO collapse, her government would have not only Plan A, but also Plans B and C to ensure national security.