Lithuanian, Estonian ministers discuss Baltic defense plans

VILNIUS – Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas and his newly-appointed Estonian counterpart, Hanno Pevkur, on Thursday discussed regional security and defense issues. 

"Together with Estonia, we will continue our countries' cooperation projects and initiatives, such as the acquisition of HIMARS systems from the US or a Baltic enhanced defense agreement (...)," Anusauskas said in a press release. "We will also work together to implement the NATO summit's decisions on bolstering the defense of the Alliance's eastern flank."

"We look forward to our close cooperation in the run-up to NATO's 2023 summit in Vilnius. This is an opportunity that we must seize," he added. 

The two ministers discussed topical bilateral and multilateral cooperation issues via a video link and agreed to meet in person in the near future. 

Anusauskas also congratulated his counterpart on his new position.

Pevkur underlined the need to step up defense cooperation between the countries, according to the press release.   

In recent years, the Baltic countries' cooperation has covered areas such as officer training at the Baltic Defense College, NATO's air-policing, naval forces, synchronized capacity planning, coordination of joint procurement, joint exercises, drills, and seminars, according to the press release.

Pevkur was appointed as defense minister after the Estonian parliament on July 14 gave Kaja Kalas the mandate to form a new coalition government. The new Cabinet was sworn in by the parliament on Monday.