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On 20 March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, delivered an address at the Miami Security Forum discussion on strengthening cooperation between Western Hemisphere nations, the U.S., and European partners, titled "Leveraging Extra-Hemispheric Partners and Allies in the Americas”.

During the discussion, the Minister emphasized that countering hybrid threats, protecting critical infrastructure, and managing migration flows were common denominators uniting European and Latin American security agendas.

“Modern security challenges are global, transcending national borders and continents, so transatlantic cooperation is a strategic necessity today,” the Minister said.

The discussion focused on the possibility of strengthening cooperation between the EU, the U.S., and Latin American countries in the fight against synthetic drugs, as well as the EU-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement as one of the ways to deepen economic ties between the EU and Latin America.

The head of Lithuania's diplomacy also presented Lithuania as a centre of knowledge and experience with unique experience in countering Russian hybrid attacks and Chinese economic coercion. The Minister assured that these lessons were relevant not only for Europe, but also for other regions seeking to strengthen economic resilience and security of societies.

"We are ready to share our experience because only together can we curb the negative impact on our societies by strengthening the resilience of democracies," said Budrys.

Colombian Defence Minister Pedro Arnulfo Sanchez also took part in the discussion. The conversation was moderated by Alex Gray, head of the American Foreign Policy Council.

The Miami Security Forum is an annual event hosted by the Heritage Foundation, a U.S. think tank, which convenes leading policymakers, national security and defense experts, and private sector executives to discuss the main security challenges facing the Western Hemisphere and the Euro-Atlantic area.