News

Today Lithuanian nation marks the anniversary of accession to NATO – the strongest security alliance. Eleven years ago, on 29 March 2004, Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas, together with the Prime Ministers of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia presented the ratification instruments of the Washington Treaty to the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. On this historic day, Lithuania became a full-fledged member of NATO and entered a common European security structure, more profoundly than ever before in it‘s history of thousand years.

We do not have any doubts about our country‘s path and vision. Lithuania pursued the goal of membership focused and united. This aspiration was supported by all political parties of the country and all institutions have contributed to the achievement of this objective. Without a doubt, the most important stimulus was the determination of Lithuanian people to defend their country's independence and their desire to no longer allow the recurrence of past occupations. By joining the transatlantic family, we fulfilled this aim.

These days, the continuing Russian aggression in Eastern Ukraine, further underscores the importance of our membership in NATO, and points out that we need to be constantly ready to defend our independence and well-being.

We appreciate the collective security measures, recently granted to Lithuania, the Baltic States and eastern NATO countries. Last year at the NATO Summit in the UK, after assessing the situation and threats, NATO countries unanimously approved the Readiness Action Plan and agreed to strengthen the security of the Alliance‘s eastern wing, including Lithuania. Lithuanian air space is continuously protected by NATO fighters. Our soldiers together with rotating Allied forces deployed in Lithuania are gaining more experience to defend themselves shoulder to shoulder. Lithuania will soon set up an international NATO command, which will coordinate the arrival and participation of particularly high readiness force in the exercises.

We have to be determined to continue to strengthen the provision of military units, the preparation of forces, and to ensure adequate defense spending. The decision to temporarily return the nine month conscription is our contribution to the collective defense.

Today we can reasonably be proud of the public solidarity and support for Lithuania's defense and security policy issues. This is a strong signal, deterring other countries against any attempt to question the readiness of Lithuania, together with the allies, to defend it‘s people and nation.