MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE R. JUKNEVIČIENĖ ANTICIPATES MORE NATO AND US PRESENCE IN LITHUANIA
April 19, in a meeting with US Senators on visit in Lithuania Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė said she expected more US and NATO presence in our region. Lithuanian Minister assured Senators Jeff Sessions, Jon Kyl, Mike Crapo and Ron Johnson that cooperation with the United States is a keystone Lithuania’s priority and the fundamental security guarantee to our country. In their turn Senators expressed multilateral support to Lithuania’s aspiration to continue and increase visibility and presence of the United States in the region through military exercise, extended NATO Air Policing mission and bilateral cooperation projects.
„We understand and support your interests, however, complicated financial situation and decreased defence spending may become a key drawback preventing us from implementing all our intentions“, Senator J. Sessions said.Senators described Lithuania as a reliable member of the Alliance whose support to the US interest in Afghanistan and Iraq is highly appreciated. Lithuania’s input into the international security and intense cooperation with the European countries is expected to allow the United States to continue the support and presence in the region.
R. Juknevičienė assured that Lithuania is ready to strengthen cooperation with the nearest neighbours in the region and to put all the efforts to increase financing in defence sector.
„Having overcome such a risky financial crisis to Lithuania’s population our Government understands that we can not miss the moment and by all means invest into our security,“ Lithuanian Minister said.
Source: MoND, PR Advisor to the Minister of National Defence Ugnė Naujokaitytė, phone 00370 5 273 5250, 00370 640 45 376.
