News

On 4 April, at NATO Foreign Ministers meeting in Washington, Minister Linas Linkevičius called for response to the actions of Russia in the Black Sea region and in the area of arms control that are weakening European security. 

“Military aggression in the East Ukraine, annexation and militarisation of Crimea, occupation of part of Georgia territory, violation of navigation freedom in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov are fragments of the Russian strategy to disintegrate the architecture of European security. We must pay more attention to security in the Black Sea region and support the countries suffering from Russian aggression,” Linas Linkevičius said. 

The meeting also focused on the violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Last year NATO declared that Russia developed and deployed the rocket system 9M729 and thus violated the INF Treaty. The USA and other allies have been calling on Russia to take necessary actions to save the Treaty for six years, however, to date, Moscow has failed to provide any credible answers to concerns expressed by NATO states. 

“The Treaty violation is a strategic challenge and NATO shall employ all necessary measures to ensure collective defence and deterrence credibility. Currently Russia is not cooperating. Dialogue alone is clearly not an option as Russia continues its aggressive politics that goes beyond Ukraine and Georgia to Syria, Venezuela and the Balkans. International law violations must have clear consequences and come to a price,” Linas Linkevičius noted. 

During the meeting the ministers adopted a package of measures intended for ensuring security in the Black Sea region. It involves additional allied actions and strengthening of appropriate capacities as well as measures for stronger support for Georgia and Ukraine.

The annual NATO ministerial meeting was held on 3-4 April in Washington where the North Atlantic Treaty was signed 70 year ago.