News

Thursday, May 17, Vilnius - President Dalia Grybauskaitė is leaving on a working visit to Chicago where she will attend the NATO Summit. The biggest summit in NATO's history - to be attended by 57 heads of state and government, the UN Secretary General, and the leaders of the World Bank and the European Union - will focus on the strengthening of collective defence, the missile defence system, the mission in Afghanistan, and new threats. According to the President, the Summit will also discuss issues of vital importance to the security of the people of Lithuania: implementing contingency plans for the Baltic States, extending the Baltic Air Policing mission, the intensification of militarization at Lithuania's borders, and missile defence.Through Lithuania's efforts, emerging new threats as well as energy and cyber security issues have been included into the Summit agenda. The possibility of accrediting the Vilnius-based Energy Security Center as a NATO center of excellence will also be addressed in Chicago. NATO leaders will devote special attention to Smart Defence projects. The Air Policing mission in the Baltic States is one of the most successful examples of NATO solidarity and Smart Defence. Smart Defence initiatives will help NATO member states make their defence spending more effective and their capabilities more efficient. At the Summit, the Baltic States will announce that they are increasing their contribution to the Air Policing mission. A bilateral meeting between President Grybauskaitė and President Sauli Niinisto of Finland is scheduled at the Summit. The President of Lithuania is also expected to have meetings with other NATO heads of state. In Chicago, President Dalia Grybauskaitė will meet with members of the Lithuanian American community and its organizations. Press Service of the President