Lithuanians know the price of freedom well.
They bring that clarity to Europe.
It was good to be in Lithuania for the last two days, and meet with President Gitanas Nausėda, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas, Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas, as well as the Speaker of the Parliament, Juozas Olekas.
Together, we discussed a full range of issues, including Russia’s increasingly brazen and reckless hybrid attacks.
🔹 EU’s counter-hybrid strategy – Airspace violations, disinformation campaigns, and sabotage are persistent security concerns. Lithuania has our full support. Its experience must help shape Europe’s collective response. An attack on one country tests the resolve of us all. The EU’s counter-hybrid strategy and drone and counter-drone action plan must deliver practical protection.
🔹 Eastern Flank Watch – Lukashenko has made Belarus a platform for Russia’s war. His regime threatens its European neighbours and weaponises illegal migration against them. I visited the Padvarionys Frontier Station between Lithuania and Belarus. The sophistication of the migrant smuggling tunnels points to organised support, and are strong indications that Minsk has been lending a hand. Lithuania’s border security is a shared European responsibility. We must accelerate the Eastern Flank Watch, working closely with NATO, and keep up our sanctions pressure.
🔹 Defence – Lithuania leads by example. They spend well over 5% of GDP on defence, and host many key NATO installations. The strong focus Lithuania intends to put on security and defence among your EU Council Presidency priorities could not be timelier.
🔹 Enlargement – Lithuania’s commitment is equally valuable. Bringing new members into our Union is a strategic investment in Europe’s security and prosperity. We must work towards opening further negotiation clusters with Ukraine and Moldova, and advance negotiations with Albania and Montenegro. Our goal should remain to welcome new members during this mandate.
