“The key is to review the defense strategy of the Baltic States. It is not necessary to name a specific potential, but to assess the security situation, which has changed completely, and from this, first and foremost a political task, to start precise force planning in the region, and I hope so.” he told reporters ahead of the alliance’s extraordinary summit in Brussels on Thursday to discuss the situation surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“A very clear signal is needed that both Poland and the Baltic States need a full defense strategy. If it is said that every inch, every centimeter will be defended, then concrete steps must be taken as we do so. We see that there is a certain potential in Poland. , and I am convinced that the Baltic States should be involved in this as well, “the Minister emphasized.
Britain announced last week that it would deploy its state-of-the-art Sky Saber medium-range air defense system in Poland.
Asked what specific potential could be located in Lithuania, Landsbergis replied that it was a question of security in the whole region and “Lithuania can be protected by protecting Latvia as well”.
“Therefore, it should not be viewed too sensitively – not everything should be in Lithuania,” he added.
Speaking about Lithuania’s proposal to replace the NATO Baltic Air Patrol Mission with an air defense mission, Landsbergis pointed out that air defense would be one of the components of the common defense.
“I personally support it, and the government has such a position, but it is better if it comes from NATO planners, because part of the planes are in Latvia, part – in Estonia, and they can do it,” the minister said.
The issue of possible additional NATO forces in the eastern flank was discussed on Wednesday in the National Security and Defense Committee of the Lithuanian Seimas. According to its chairman Laurīns Kasčūns, the presence of allied forces in the region is expected to increase two to three times.
There are currently about 3,500 Allied troops stationed in Lithuania, most of them Americans, as well as Germans leading the NATO International Battalion.
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