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The President and the King of the Belgians discussed defense and security cooperation

President of the Republic of Lithuania

February 09, 2023

President Gitanas Nausėda is on a working visit to Brussels, where on Thursday he met with King Philippe of the Belgians. The Lithuanian leader and the Belgian monarch discussed bilateral economic and military cooperation, as well as security issues.

During the meeting, Gitanas Nausėda stressed that the state visit of the Belgian royal couple to Lithuania in October last year had become a good starting point for the establishment of strong partnerships between Lithuania and Belgium in the fields of science, culture and business. According to the President, efforts should be made to further foster bilateral relations and to open up new opportunities for cooperation. As one of the initiatives to promote bilateral relations, the Lithuanian and Belgian leaders discussed the possibility of holding a Year of Lithuanian Culture in Belgium and a Year of Belgian Culture in Lithuania.

President Gitanas Nausėda and the King of the Belgians also discussed regional security issues and support for Ukraine. According to the Lithuanian leader, it is necessary to increase allied assistance to Ukraine with heavy weapons, to further expand sanctions against Russia, to immediately use Russian frozen assets to rebuild Ukraine, and to seek accountability for crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine through the establishment of a special tribunal.

The President also noted that, in the current geopolitical context, it was particularly important to increase Europe's defense capabilities and to strengthen NATO's eastern flank.

"Defense and deterrence are our priorities. The unity and resolve of the Allies, both in support of Ukraine and in reinforcing their own defense, must be further boosted. At the NATO Summit in Vilnius, we need to take decisions that will further enhance the security of all of us," Gitanas Nausėda pointed out.

The President also thanked Belgium for its contribution to the security of the Baltic region through its participation in NATO air policing missions and the forward presence battle group in Lithuania.