The Lithuanian foreign minister noted that due to the changes in security situation in Eastern and Central Europe, Lithuania was determined to increase defence spending to reach 2% of GDP by 2020. The minister rejoiced at the fact that Lithuania was planning to allocated additional LTL 130 million (EUR 38 million) to national defence this year already.
"Due to Russia's aggression in Ukraine we must to review the current defence planning and to assess the security situation in Central and Eastern Europe accordingly," underlined Linkevicius.
General Breedlove and Minister Linkevicius commended multinational Exercise Saber Strike 2014 held concurrently on 9-20 June. It was agreed that such exercises improved interoperability of allied NATO units, coordination of actions and readiness to complete defensive and offensive operations.
