President Grybauskaitė: NATO has to revise its relations with Russia

According to the president, NATO has to review its relations with Russia and decide how the Alliance will develop its relations with a country that is openly violating international law and agreements, and has not shown absolutely no intention to stop its aggression in eastern Ukraine.

The president said that Lithuania has to respond fast and appropriately to the changing geopolitical situation, both together with its NATO allies and on its own. According to Grybauskaitė, the NATO Summit in Wales will discuss augmentation of the Alliance’s defensive capabilities and will seek to unite efforts of NATO member states to ensure that the Alliance is ready to defend its people and territory if needed.

The president will strive to ensure long-term allied presence in the territory of Lithuania, enhance air policing mission, hold military exercises constantly to train to operate together with the allied forces.

The president noted that the stronger the transatlantic relations are, the safer the region is. Therefore, Lithuania urges to develop an even closer political and economic cooperation between North America and Europe. Free trade area and favourable conditions to trade natural gas will also improve the security of NATO member states.

In addition, the president noted that information and energy security have to be taken care of as well, in order to defend against attacks in these areas.