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Minister D. Šakalienė calls for defence of the eastern EU border to become a European readiness priority

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2025-10-17
International cooperation | Minister's news | Security and defense policy

On October 15 Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) in Brussels. The meeting focused on strengthening the eastern European border, increasing defence spending and the EU White Paper for European Defence - Readiness 2030. According to Minister, the document needs to include realistic measures for defence of the eastern flank, defence of the external EU borders with russia and Belarus in that count.

D. Šakalienė underscored the necessity for the EU to urgently collectively commit to strengthen defence of the borders with russia and Belarus and to improve drone countermeasures. According to Minister, Lithuania's standpoint is clear: investment in defence of the eastern border must become the centerpiece of the enhancement of the European defensive readiness.

"Defence of the eastern border must become the priority of European readiness. We are facing blatant russian provocation. putin seeks to show that Europe is divided and incapable of protecting its citizens. The Baltic states, Poland and Finland are already investing billions in the defence of the EU's external borders, but the entire EU must take on a shared commitment to urgently improve the defence measures and infrastructure along its eastern borders. putin is watching the EU response to the aggressive russian provocation conducted in the past months and he will not stop unless the EU takes adequate decisions for strengthening the member states' capacity to defend the eastern EU border," said Minister D. Šakalienė.

Minister also underlined that a member state could not handle the russian provocations individually, however, there was not enough capability and resource at EU level to deter putin. In its turn, Lithuania is investing in the defence of EU borders and countermobility measures, but commitment to the defence of the eastern borders must be agreed to at EU level.

The European Commission is about to announce the White Paper for European Defence - Readiness 2030 setting out specific EU-level measures and initiatives. The document aims to improve EU member states' defensive capacity in priority areas, including air and missile defence, counter-drone and countermobility measures.

"We are not going to be able to achieve progress if we do not increase defence spending at EU level. The Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 must clearly include investment in the European defence readiness, and the projects alongside with capability priorities need to be fully compatible with NATO planning," spoke Minister D. Šakalienė.

In Brussels, Minister also noted the importance of a long-term cooperation with Ukraine's defence industry and the need to develop a clearer system of industrial cooperation. "It would be a way to develop joint capabilities more effectively and to strengthen both Ukrainian and European defence industries together," Minister added. Lithuania continues providing comprehensive military support to Ukraine and fulfilling its commitments.