Lithuania welcomes NATO decisions to put more forces on standby – minister

VILNIUS – Lithuania welcomes NATO's recent decisions to put more forces on standby, Lithuanian National Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said on Tuesday after his meeting with Mircea Geoana, deputy secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

"NATO cannot rule out any scenario. The Alliance must be ready for collective defense in any region. Therefore, we welcome NATO's decision to put more forces on standby and take other measures boosting NATO's readiness to act swiftly," Anusauskas said in a statement issued by the Ministry of National Defense.

The minister and Geoana discussed the Alliance's political dialogue with Russia as well measures bolstering deterrence and defense.

NATO can maintain a political dialogue with Russia on current affairs but cannot hold any negotiations on the fundamental principles, deterrence and defense and its open-door policy, the Lithuanian minister said.

During the meeting with Geoana, Anusauskas also welcomed Germany's decision made earlier this week to send mot troops to the Lithuania-based NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup, which demonstrated NATO's unity and solidarity.

NATO must have necessary capability to withstand Russia's threat and boost deterrence and defense in the Alliance's eastern flank, Anusauskas said.