News

On 23 March, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Jonas Survila met with a senior fellow at the Hadson Institute Marshall Billingslea, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, Director of its Keystone Defense Initiative Rebeccah Heinrichs, and Brian Capra, Director of strategic applications for Chainalysi

The meeting focused on regional security, bilateral military cooperation between Lithuania and the United States, Russia’s war against Ukraine and the application of sanctions. The participants exchanged views on ways to reinforce the defence and deterrence system of the Baltic states and Lithuania in particular.

“We must collectively accelerate and boost measures to improve the security of Lithuania and other Baltic countries, expand our support for  Ukraine until its victory, and work together to help Ukraine integrate into the Euro-Atlantic structures. We are glad that international defence policy experts are visiting Lithuania. With them, we can share our country’s priorities and hear their insights and suggestions,” said Survila, thanking the guests for their visit.

The meeting also highlighted the need to continue and increase support for Ukraine and ensure a more potent and effective response to Russia’s aggression. “Russia’s politics and the economy must suffer even stronger consequences of its brutal invasion of Ukraine. It is important to continue to increase support for Ukraine, consistently providing weapons and financial assistance, and to expand and prevent circumvention of sanctions against Russia and Belarus,” Survila said.

Billingslea is the former Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control. He also participates in the Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States, which is drafting proposals for deploying or extending forces to Europe and globally.