Support for Ukraine remains priority for Baltics – Lithuanian defense minister

  • 2023-01-11
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Support for Ukraine remains a priority for the Baltic countries, Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said after meeting with his Estonian and Latvian counterparts in Tallinn on Wednesday.  

"2022 was another very productive year of Baltic defense cooperation," Anusauskas said in a press release. "Following Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine, we worked very closely to help Ukrainians as effectively as possible."

"Support to Ukraine remains a priority for the Baltic states in 2023," he added.  

At their meeting in Tallinn, Anusauskas, Inara Murniece of Latvia and Hanno Pevkuru of Estonia discussed assistance to Ukraine, and other topical issues of regional security and cooperation. 

Anusauskas said that it is now crucial for the Baltic nations to further develop their capabilities, noting that agreements signed by Lithuania and Estonia with the US on the acquisition of HIMARS artillery systems are increasing the Baltic region's combat capabilities and opening new opportunities for cooperation.

The three Baltic defense ministers also discussed preparations for NATO's summit in Vilnius on July 11 to 12.

At the summit, the Baltic countries will jointly seek decisions on further bolstering NATO's forward defenses on the Eastern flank, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said. 

"The Baltic countries expect progress in discussing regional plans and the pre-positioning of stocks and munitions," it said.