Ministers voiced their unity and solidarity concerning the security threats in the Baltic region and agreed to coordinate their actions and response to the situation trilaterally and internationally.
“The current situation on the border is not simply a migrant crisis, those are hybrid warfare actions carried out against the stability of the European Union, NATO, and most specifically – of the Baltic states. This hybrid attack needs a unified and coordinated Baltic response. We thank Estonia and Latvia for expressing solidarity and for the unity in the face of these threats,” said Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
“The situation is a very serious and deep security crisis that is aimed directly at the Baltic states and the northeastern flank of NATO. We are determined to continue rendering aid to Lithuania and seeking international support and help in solving this security crisis,” Minister of Defence of Estonia Kalle Laanet stressed at the meeting.
Minister of Defence of Latvia Artis Pabriks seconded the ideas and the common position expressed by his Lithuanian and Estonian counterparts at the meeting.
In his turn, Minister A. Anušauskas thanked Latvia and Estonia for the support and humanitarian assistance in Lithuania’s efforts to fortify protection of its border with Belarus: Estonia had handed over to Lithuania concertina wire, plans dedicating unmanned aerial vehicles, and PUMA AE II RQ-20B TTA and STREAM-C UAS night-vision systems. Latvia handed over humanitarian assistance – tents, beds, power generators, and other necessities.
Baltic Defence Ministers also agreed to hold Baltic Ministry of Defence expert-level video teleconference meetings on a regular basis to continue consulting on joint actions in response to the hybrid operations and the oncoming Zapad–21 exercise.
