Lithuanian president, king of Denmark talk bilateral relations, regional security

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and First Lady Diana Nausediene met with King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark in Vilnius on Wednesday and discussed Lithuanian-Danish cooperation in the field of defense and security policy within the framework of NATO and the European Union, bilateral relations, the security situation, and support for Ukraine, the presidential press service said.

"Denmark has made a significant contribution to Lithuania's accession to the EU and NATO and to attracting substantial investment to Lithuania. The Danish Armed Forces provided multifaceted support in building the Lithuanian Armed Forces and was Lithuania's first partner in international operations. The Danish Air Force actively participates in NATO's air policing mission in the Baltic states, and its contingents have been deployed at the Siauliai Air Base on several occasions," Nauseda was quoted as saying in the statement.

A strong partnership between the Nordic and Baltic states is the foundation of regional security, and Lithuania and Denmark are like-minded countries that share a similar view of today's geopolitical challenges and cooperate closely to counter threats posed by Russia and support Ukraine, the Lithuanian president said.

With the United States making claims on Greenland, which is part of Denmark, and talking about Arctic security, Nauseda emphasized during the meeting that the latter is a matter of transatlantic security.

"Lithuania is ready to contribute to the efforts of Denmark and other NATO allies to strengthen security in the Arctic region. We stand in solidarity with Denmark on the issue of Greenland. Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law that cannot be questioned. The future of the people of Greenland and Denmark depends solely on them," Nauseda noted, adding that joint efforts must continue in all areas to strengthen NATO's eastern flank defense and response to threats.

"We must make more effective use of Nordic cooperation and strengthen NATO's defense and deterrence to enhance security in the Baltic Sea region, including the security of critical underwater infrastructure, especially in light of repeated incidents of damage to underwater cables caused by the so-called "shadow fleet." It is important to ensure the continuity of NATO's Eastern Sentry and Baltic Sentry missions," he said.

Among other things, during the meeting, the president thanked Denmark, which was the second country after Iceland to recognize Lithuania's independence on February 28, 1991. 

In his toast remarks at the state dinner in honor of the Danish royal couple later on Wednesday, Nauseda stressed that Lithuania and Denmark have been linked by the Baltic Sea since ancient times. 

"It brought our ancestors closer and led to their first encounters. By engaging early in trade and forging cultural ties, we gradually discovered shared interests. In our efforts to prevent our common enemies, including Moscow, from gaining dominance in the Baltic Sea, we fought side by side as allies – and as friends," the president said.

"Our countries, united by the Baltic Sea in the flow of history, today stand on an even firmer foundation – shared values and interests. By demonstrating respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states as the basis of international relations, we strengthen regional security. And by trusting one another more, joining forces and working together, we will withstand any storm," he said.

In the speech released by his office, Nauseda also thanked Denmark for its long-standing investments in the Lithuanian economy, as well as its contribution to the country's pursuit of European integration after the restoration of independence and support for Lithuania's NATO membership.