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Minister of National Defence met with Minister for Defence of Spain: NATO has to transition from NATO air policing to air defence

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2025-09-24

Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė met with Minister for Defence of Spain Margarita Robles Fernández who is on a visit in Lithuania to meet with her military personnel in Šiauliai. They discussed bilateral cooperation, strengthening air defence in the Baltic region and further support to Ukraine. Minister of National Defence D. Šakalienė underscored that security remained the top priority for the Government of Lithuania and NATO force deployment in the region was the language that russia understood.

"We are grateful to Spain for your significant contribution to our security. You are operating your ninth rotation of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states flown from Šiauliai. You were also the first of NATO Allies to send additional fighter jets in enforcement of the Rotation NATO Air Defence Model. Russia's present-day behavior leaves no room for delusion: it is a forthright and forward-looking confrontation with the whole Europe. Therefore, our defence investment has to be focused on the area likely to be the first one hit: the eastern border area. If we create a resilient defence line there, we will deter the enemy's ambition not just from the Baltic states but also any other European capital. We can see a necessity for the Alliance to change its perspective with regard to the latest airspace breeches. Russia's actions are testing NATO, therefore we have to ensure a timely and effective response by strengthening UAV, UAV-jamming and ground-based air and missile defence capabilities. We hope that Spain will continue being a part of Lithuania's effort to strengthen air defence," said Minister D. Šakalienė.

Minister of National Defence pointed out that the military aircraft the Spanish guest arrived by was hit with GPS jamming near Kaliningrad. "Military systems on the aircraft are obviously more resilient to GPS jamming as compared to civilian equipment which left Spanish Minister's flight uninterrupted, however, the russian gesture made an impression. Spain has reiterated its commitment to our security and recognizes the need for joint action to strengthen security of the border area."

D. Šakalienė underscored key priorities of the Lithuanian defence policy at the meeting, namely, development of the infrastructure for hosting Allied forces and formation of the infantry division, which includes finance for tanks, air defence and other capabilities. Lithuania will be spending 5.25% of GDP on defence as of 2025 reaching one of the highest rates in NATO. Also, Lithuania receives EUR 6.4 billion through the European Union's SAFE which will be spent to develop the infantry division by 2030 and implement the Baltic Defence Line.

The meeting focussed significantly on air defence. Minister D. Šakalienė accentuated that the drone incursion was a test to the whole NATO and required strengthening the Alliance's air capabilities in the region. She announced that Lithuania was already executing an operation near the border with Belarus with ground-based means and mobile fire parties, as well as planned acquiring more sensors and systems for drone neutralization shortly.

Another topic addressed at the meeting was strengthening further support to Ukraine: Ministers underlined the strong Lithuanian and Spanish commitment to support the fighting Armed Forces of Ukraine as long as it takes. Minister Šakalienė thanked Spain for joining the Demining Coalition co-led by Lithuania and Iceland. This year the Coalition aims to train and equip eight Ukraine's EOD battalions.

Lithuania will continue financing Ukraine's defence industry in order to increase its scope of arms productions as quickly as possible and to accelerate the delivery of vital weaponry to the Ukrainian troops on the frontlines. Spain and Ukraine are close partners in the area of weaponry production in Ukraine, Spain also supplies Spanish-made weapons to Ukraine, while Lithuania aims to develop joint Lithuanian-Ukrainian defence industry companies in Lithuania.

Spain is currently contributing its 9th NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states flown from Šiauliai with four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, and has air defence capabilities deployed in Latvia and Estonia. Spanish military personnel also serve in the Multinational Battle Group in Latvia, contributes to the maritime presence in the Baltic Sea and helps training troops and fighter aircraft controllers of the Lithuanian Air Force.