• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

The President in Italy: Lithuania and Italy are allies in strengthening transatlantic defense

President of the Republic of Lithuania

April 28, 2023

President Gitanas Nausėda is on a working visit to Rome. On Friday, the President met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella to discuss preparations for the NATO Summit in Vilnius, the security of the eastern flank, Russia's war in Ukraine, and bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Italy. The Deputy Prime Minister of Italy, Antonio Tajani, also attended the meeting.

The Lithuanian leader underlined the need to continue a principled stance on Russia's aggression against Ukraine and to consistently support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and territorial integrity. According to the President, the speed and volume of support to Ukraine are crucial factors that will determine the future course of the war. Therefore, we need to mobilize all the necessary resources for supporting Ukraine's struggle against the aggressor.

Gitanas Nausėda thanked the President of Italy for his country's contribution to the security of the Baltic region through participation in the Baltic Air Policing mission. The Italian Air Force has already deployed six rotations, with one more scheduled for this coming autumn. According to the President, leaders at the NATO Summit in Vilnius must take decisions to further strengthen the security of the eastern flank by effective deterrence and significant allied presence as well as by reinforcing air and missile defense.

"The security situation in Europe dictates the need for us to be united and decisive. This July in Vilnius, we need to take decisions that will further strengthen NATO's deterrence and defense, especially on the eastern flank. We must agree on a minimum threshold of 2 percent of GDP for defense spending and send a clear message to Ukraine that it is part of the transatlantic security architecture," the President said.

The Lithuanian and Italian leaders also discussed migration issues. Gitanas Nausėda emphasized that both countries, facing illegal migration challenges, agree on the need to strengthen EU border protection and adopt amendments to EU legal acts for ensuring an effective response to illegal migration and its instrumentalization.