The President emphasized that even though the pandemic would affect both the social and economic sectors, it would not change Lithuania’s principled stand on its international obligations. Lithuania would continue to allocate 2 percent of GDP for defense spending. He further said that Lithuania would also keep to its other commitments by contributing to NATO’s operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Gitanas Nausėda expressed gratitude to Allied countries for deploying their troops to Lithuania and securing continuous air patrol over the Baltic States in the ongoing difficult situation.
The President highlighted the increasingly stronger cooperation ties between NATO and the European Union as well as their coordinated joint actions in response to the pandemic. “We need to preserve good practices and continue collaborative work between the two organizations in civil resilience, military mobility and strategic communication,” the President said.
Gitanas Nausėda told the NATO Secretary General that Lithuania was closely watching Russia’s growing efforts to use the pandemic to destabilize the situation and spread disinformation in allied and partner countries. We are concerned, the President said, about Russia’s continued military activity in the Eastern neighborhood and other regions, including Syria and Libya.
Gitanas Nausėda underlined that the best response to Russia’s aggressive and destabilizing actions was consistent and speedy implementation of agreed decisions and enhanced defense measures. Among them he singled out the strengthening of air defense, readiness to accept the speedy arrival of allied reinforcements, if necessary, and relevant defense plans.
