"NATO defence scenarios must be constantly adjusted to deal with real threats and emerging challenges. This is possible only by enhancing collective defence and implementing contingency plans in practice through regular military exercises. We need to ensure that all defence elements are in place and set for concrete action in case of critical circumstances," the President said.
During her visit to Washington this past week Dalia Grybauskaitė discussed the need to conduct regular NATO exercises in the Baltic States with U.S. President Barack Obama.
President Dalia Grybauskaitė said that the regional exercise Steadfast Jazz to be held later this autumn was a good start. She will be going to Riga in the first weeks of November to observe the exercise. Sixteen NATO allies will participate in Steadfats Jazz 2013.
According to the President, ensuring cyber and energy security is crucially important for the Baltic States. Tomorrow, Dalia Grybauskaitė and Anders Fogh Rasmussen will inaugurate the NATO Energy Security Center of Excellence which has the objective of identifying the key threats to energy security and provide advice on dealing with them effectively.
The President said that the presence of the NATO Energy Security Center of Excellence in Vilnius reaffirmed Lithuania's international recognition and acknowledged its concrete contribution to NATO's smart defence. Working at the Center are experts from Italy, France, Turkey, Latvia, and Estonia. The United States has also stated its readiness to engage in the Center's work.
The NATO summit to be held next year was also reviewed at the meeting. The President pointed out that strengthening collective defence, cyber and energy security, and enhancing EU-NATO partnership continued to be among Lithuania's top priorities.