The President called for further strengthening of NATO's defense capabilities

President of the Republic of Lithuania

June 02, 2023

On Friday, President Gitanas Nausėda addressed a high-level meeting of the speakers of the parliaments of NATO member countries in Vilnius and called for continued full support for Ukraine and strengthening of the Alliance's defense capabilities.

"Ukraine is currently buying us valuable time at a massive price. We have no right to waste it," the President spoke.

Gitanas Nausėda underlined that it is Ukraine that currently stands between a free Europe and the aggressor Russia. Therefore, the only way to stop Russia in time is by providing Ukraine with political and practical support to help it defend itself and win this war.

According to the President, we must do everything it takes to ensure that Russia never dares to test our boundaries and NATO's resolve to respond. We have to demonstrate our most solid ability to defend every inch of the Alliance.

The NATO Summit in Vilnius this July will be an important step towards strengthening NATO's defense and consolidating effective deterrence. It is expected to lay down the principles of forward defense on the Alliance's eastern flank, as well as approve new regional defense plans and a rotational air defense model.

"My hope is for the Vilnius Summit to agree on setting a new floor of defense spending at 2% GDP. However, if we are serious about our security, we must aim even higher. In this regard, the role of national parliaments is crucial," the President underscored.

The Lithuanian leader also called on the speakers of the parliaments of NATO member states to support Sweden's bid to become the 32nd NATO member and to support closer NATO cooperation with Ukraine, which cannot be left in a grey area after the war. Ukraine must receive a strong political message that it will become part of the transatlantic security architecture.

The President urged the speakers of the parliaments of the NATO member states to unite efforts. "We have each other and shared values to rely on. That is a priceless pillar we should never doubt," Gitanas Nausėda stressed.

The President's Communication Group