“I believe we would attempt to assist Finland in some way if it was needed. However, it is not our direct defensive obligation,” Olekas told radio Žinių Radijas, on August 27.
The president of Finland said this week that Helsinki would not be able to defend the Baltic States in case of an armed conflict because it has a long border with Russia and has to care for its own security. Meanwhile Olekas stated that every country differently understands the concern for security and chooses different defensive strategies.
Although Finland is not a NATO member, yet it participates in the Partnership for Peace programme. It also sent its forces to the missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Lithuanian, Swedish and Finnish armed forces have cooperation experience in the European Union’s battlegroups – around 40 Lithuanian soldiers were on duty in January-June in the Nordic Battlegroup.
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