Gitanas NausÄ—da in Bucharest: We need to invest more in air defence capabilities

On Wednesday, President Gitanas Nausėda is participating in the Bucharest Nine and Nordic Summit in Bucharest.

The Lithuanian leader emphasized that the security situation in Europe continues to deteriorate: Russia continues its war in Ukraine, while its malicious activities and hybrid attacks on NATO territory are becoming increasingly aggressive.

"It is essential to strengthen the military presence of NATO allies on the eastern flank in order to ensure collective defense and deterrence, and reinforce regional security. NATO's enhanced vigilance operations-Baltic Sentry and Eastern Sentry-need to be properly resourced and maintained for as long as necessary," the President said.

According to the Head of State, violations of airspace remain a serious concern for society. Recent incidents involving drones and smuggling balloons highlight the urgent need for greater investment in air defense capabilities, including drone and counter-drone systems, as well as acoustic sensors.

Gitanas Nausėda welcomed the decision to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the meeting. "The goal is to learn from Ukraine's experience, hear its priorities, and further strengthen dialogue and security cooperation among the countries of NATO's eastern flank, while coordinating efforts to enhance NATO's deterrence and defense capabilities across the region stretching from the North and Baltic Seas to the Black Sea, which we view as a single geostrategic space," he underlined.

"NATO's focus on air defense in the Baltic region and across the entire eastern flank needs to be significantly strengthened," the Lithuanian leader stressed.

Speaking about preparations for the NATO summit to be held in Ankara on 7-8 July, the President pointed out that we need to send a positive message: reaffirming the transatlantic bond, unity, continued U.S. commitment to European security, and a clear sharing of the burden-a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO. He also called for increased military production, faster innovation, and better cost control.

"Only a strong Europe can be a reliable ally to the United States and make our Alliance stronger, fairer, and more capable. The transatlantic bond and the U.S. military presence in Europe remain the foundation of our collective security. Lithuania is fully committed to ensuring the highest standards of host nation support for U.S. and allied troops stationed on our territory, and we will continue investing in this area by strengthening military infrastructure, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East," Gitanas Nausėda said.

The Lithuanian leader also underscored the importance of continued support for Ukraine. He noted that long-term assistance has to be sustained while ensuring fairer burden-sharing among allies, including through funding from the PURL instrument. The President reiterated that Lithuania will continue allocating at least 0.25 percent of its GDP to Ukraine.

The Bucharest Nine brings together NATO's eastern flank countries: Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. The format was established in 2015 in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. The Nordic countries participating in the summit are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The first summit bringing together NATO's eastern flank and the Nordic countries took place in Vilnius in 2025.

In addition to the leaders of these countries, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and representatives of the United States also attended the meeting in Bucharest.