Defence
US fighter jets take over patrolling of Baltic skies
The United States is taking over the Baltic air policing mission two weeks ahead of Zapad 2017 (West), a large-scale military exercise to be held jointly by Russia and Belarus. […]
Belarus
Defence
Seven fighters land in Lithuania as US boosts air policing mission ahead of Zapad drills (Updated)
The United States has boosted the Baltic air policing mission as Russia and Belarus prepare to hold their joint large-scale military exercise Zapad (West) next month. […]
Foreign affairs
Trump reiterates US position on Baltic region’s defense – Lithuanian formin
Donald Trump only reiterated Washington’s position on protecting the Baltic region, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius said on Tuesday, commenting on the US president’s words that the United States is “very protective” of the Baltics. […]
Defence
Zapad’s observers to see if Russia takes troops out of Belarus – Lithuanian president
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė said on Thursday that she expects that observers will be able to see if Russia will take its troops out of Belarus after next month’s Zapad military exercise is over, but she did not comment on whether there are indications that Russian military personnel may stay in the neighboring country. […]
Foreign affairs
Government to keep up pressure on Belarus over N-plant, to seek good economic ties
Members of the Lithuanian Cabinet agreed on Thursday to keep up the pressure on Belarus over the safety of the Astravyets nuclear power plant, but at the same time to seek to develop good economic relations with the neighboring country, an advisor to Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said. […]
Defence
US envoy hopes for “back-to-school” ceasefire in Ukraine
Kurt Volker, the US special representative for Ukraine, says that he has hope that a fresh ceasefire between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces can be reached in eastern Ukraine for the back-to-school season. […]
Defence
Defense, interior ministers discuss cooperation during Zapad drills
Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis and Interior Minister Eimutis Misiūnas on Tuesday discussed co-operation between their ministries during the Zapad (West) military exercise to be held jointly by Russia and Belarus in September. […]
Energy
Former president Adamkus calls for regional energy summit
Lithuania’s former President Valdas Adamkus on Tuesday called for convening a meeting of the region’s political leaders on energy issues. […]
Energy
Energy security can’t be risked by delaying synchronization project – energmin
The project for synchronizing the Baltic power grids with the Western European system must be carried out as soon as possible, or otherwise energy security would be put at risk, Lithuanian Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas said on Tuesday. […]
Defence
State Defense Council to discuss army needs, participation in intl operations
The Lithuanian State Defense Council will discuss the needs of the national defense system and the country’s participation in international operations in 2018 and 2019 at its meeting on Monday. […]
Defence
Lithuanian leaders to discuss army needs, participation in international operations
The Lithuanian State Defence Council will discuss the needs of the national defense system and the country’s participation in international operations at its meeting next week. […]
Energy
Exporting oil products via Russia would be dangerous for Belarus – Lithuanian PM
If Moscow forced Minsk to export its oil products via Russian railways and ports, that would be economically unviable and dangerous for Belarus, Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said on Thursday. […]
Defence
Foreign affairs
PM hails progress in relations with Poland
Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis says that Vilnius and Warsaw are gradually moving to a new stage of better relations and hopes that Lithuanian politicians will solve the highly contentious issue of the spelling of Polish names in Lithuanian personal documents. […]
Defence
Global LT
PM pledges greater govt support for Lithuanians in Poland
Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis promised that the Lithuanian government would provide greater support for ethnic Lithuanians living in Poland and other neighboring countries as he visited Punsk, a town in northeastern Poland, on Tuesday. […]
Defence
NATO battalions integral part of regional defense – Lithuanian president
International NATO battalions in the Baltic Sea region are an integral part of regional defense, Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė said after meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in Rukla, central Lithuania, on Friday. […]
Foreign affairs
Seimas speaker meeting with Latvian colleague in Jūrmala
Lithuania’s Parliamentary Speaker Viktoras Pranckietis is meeting with his Latvian counterpart, Inara Murniece, in the Latvian seaside resort of Jūrmala on Thursday to discuss the positions on the Astravyets nuclear power plant (NPP) under construction in Belarus. […]
Foreign affairs
Saakashvili’s words about Belarus annexation ungrounded – Lithuanian political scientists
The warnings made by Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili during a visit in Lithuania on Tuesday about Russia‘s readiness to annex Belarus are not grounded, political scientists say. […]
CORPORATE
Zapad approaches – threats and impressive numbers
Around 100 thousand troops, an aggressive scenario oriented against the Baltic States, potential provocation – these are the reasons cited as the most concerning regarding the Russian – Belarussian military exercise Zapad planned in autumn. […]