At the meeting the Minister stressed the significance of transatlantic relationship and the need for the US leadership in Europe.
“The US presence in Lithuania is required for the purpose of reliable deterrence. Lithuania greatly appreciates the strategic partnership between Lithuania and the US and its support for implementing security measures within the region,” noted Linkevičius.
The results of the Warsaw Summit as well as the decision on the formation of enhanced advance allied forces in the Baltic States and Poland have been also discussed at the meeting.
“It symbolic that today the residents of Vilnius are celebrating freedom, friendship between Lithuania and the US and an anniversary of the Sumner Welles Declaration, whereby the US refused to recognise the occupation of the Baltic States, in the Washington square developing a beautiful new tradition. The topic of freedom has been linking Lithuania and America together for many decades. Today our partnership in the fight for freedom is enhanced by public initiatives,” noted the Minister.
The Ambassador expressed delight that her three years in office had been marked with a multitude of projects significant to Lithuania having been implemented and that after the changes in the security environment Lithuania had undertook strong measures to strengthen not only the capacities of military defence, but also those of energy, economic and cyber security and strategic communication.
Ms Deborah A. McCarthy is a career diplomat and a member of the US service of senior diplomats. She has been in office as the US Ambassador to Lithuania since 5 February 2013.