News

  On January 6, Friday, Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė discussed points of regional security and prospects of the Baltic Air Policing mission in a meeting with Deputy Secretary of State William Burns at the US Department of Defence. Apart from that, the meeting defence authorities addressed the new list of US defence and security priorities announced by US President and Secretary of Defence several days ago that encompass a shift of focus on the Asian Pacific Region and modulations with regard to decreased defence financing. “However, I was reassured at the meeting that USA remains committed to Europe and Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty entrenching collective defence of all the members of the Alliance. US and NATO presence in our region is crucial”, Minister said. Considerable attention during the conversation was paid to political points and civil protests in Russia in response to the recent Duma elections. According to R. Juknevičienė, people of Russia are no longer intimidated by their Government which brings out optimistic expectations for positive changes in the future. Lithuanian Minister also noted that Russia attempts to maintain influence in the Baltic Region via energy and information areas.

Minister of National Defence and delegation also joined a discussion with the North Atlantic Council, ambassadors of other allies, and scientists. In the event she reaffirmed the vital role of the US partnership for Lithuania’s defence.

Later Lithuanian Minister met with Maj Gen Wesley Craig, the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania and Commander and the Pennsylvania National Guard and participated in a reception at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in commemoration of 13 January 1991.

 

PR Officer to the Minister of National Defence Ugnė Naujokaitytė