“I thank Germany and you personally for your contribution to strengthening Lithuania’s defense. Germany’s decision to permanently station a brigade in Lithuania is a testimony and example of the much-needed leadership and strong commitment to collective defense. We highly appreciate this decision. The permanent deployment of the brigade in Lithuania as soon as possible is our number one priority,” the Head of State stressed, adding that we cannot waste a single minute when, despite a successful progress of deploying the brigade, the strategic security environment requires an even faster pace in the implementation of this critically important objective.
During the bilateral meeting, President Gitanas Nausėda and Chancellor Olaf Scholz discussed the security situation in the region and the forthcoming NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. “As we implement the decisions of the Vilnius Summit, we need to further focus on how to strengthen the Baltic region and the eastern flank of NATO. We need to work towards the full implementation of NATO’s defense plans and the rotational air defense model, and to further increase our defense investments,” Gitanas Nausėda pointed out. The President also stressed the pursuit of Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations and its importance for the security and stability of the entire Euro-Atlantic area. According to the Head of State, Ukraine belongs in the NATO family.
The President underlined his appreciation for Germany’s initiative and leadership to take prompt action to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense and for the decision to send an additional Patriot air defense system to Ukraine. “Lithuania will join your initiative—we plan to assist Ukraine with the necessary air surveillance radar systems,” the President said.
The Head of State also welcomed the intensifying relations between Lithuania and Germany in the field of defense industry. “I hope that the decision of the German company Rheinmetall to come to Lithuania will open up even broader opportunities for cooperation between defense industry companies,” Gitanas Nausėda added.
