At the meeting, the both ministers emphasised the growing cooperation relations between the Lithuanian and Portuguese armed forces and agreed that the importance of cooperation between Lithuania and Portugal in the field of defence would only grow in the future.
According to the Minister of National Defence R. Karoblis, this visit was not coincidental; it was related with exceptionally close bilateral relations between Lithuanian and Portuguese armed forces. Decision of Portugal to send its rotational forces to Lithuania is the most striking historic example of military cooperation between countries. While training together with Lithuanian troops, Portuguese troops demonstrate the unity and readiness of NATO countries together address the security challenges that the Alliance face and to deal with external threats at the same time.
Minister R. Karoblis thanked Portugal for the contribution to the Baltic Air Policing mission - the Portuguese Air Force is currently conducting the Baltic Air Policing mission for the fourth time. Portugal has also sent maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft P-3C. The aircraft is deployed in Šiauliai and conducts patrolling and surveillance in the Baltic Sea.
At the meeting, the ministers exchanged views on the results of the recent NATO summit. "At this meeting, important decisions were made for our region - their implementation will require solidarity among all Alliance countries and readiness to share the burden," the Minister of National Defence R. Karoblis said. "With Portugal's Minister of Defence we see similar challenges to the NATO Alliance, the importance of US to European security and we agreed on the necessity to work actively together in strengthening transatlantic cooperation by using the Navy, Air and Land Force measures."
The Ministers also discussed development of military capabilities of the European Union, Permanent Structured Cooperation of the European Union (PESCO). Significant changes are currently being made in strengthening military cooperation between EU countries. Using this occasion, the Minister of National Defence R.Karoblis invited Portugal to join the Lithuanian-led PESCO "Cyber Rapid Response Teams" project.
Minister of National Defence R.Karoblis invited Portugal to consider the possibility of joining NATO's Energy Security Competence Center operating in Vilnius.
Portuguese Minister of Defence J. A. Lopes and accompanying delegation, including Portuguese Chief of Defence Admiral Antonio Silva Ribeiro, visited Lithuania on 29-30 July. Before meeting in Šiauliai on July 29, guests visited the Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion in Klaipėda, where they met Portuguese rotating force soldiers deployed in this battalion.
