"This year marks important anniversaries, including the alliance's 70th anniversary and the 15th anniversary of Lithuania’s membership of NATO. This is a good opportunity to celebrate and to be proud of our achievements. However, we must also consider the challenges that we are facing, the goals that we will continue to pursue, as well as ways to cooperate with our partners,” said L. Linkevičius.
According to Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, the region's security situation that is not improving, hybrid threats, and cyber challenges require enhanced security cooperation both regionally and internationally. "So long as we are united, we are able to respond to challenges that go beyond borders and join our efforts to prevent them," said L. Linkevičius.
As regards the Eastern Partnership policy that celebrates 10 years in 2019, the participants of the meeting agreed on the need to maintain the European Union's focus on partner countries, especially the ones that had their association agreements signed. In the strategic debate on possible future goals of the Eastern Partnership, L. Linkevičius called for ambitious, nonstandard solutions. "A strategic and ambitious agenda has led to the success of the Eastern Partnership, even though it seemed impossible for many just a decade ago," said L. Linkevičius.
The annual meetings of the twelve states have been held alternately in one of the Nordic-Baltic-Visegrád Four countries since 2013.
