The President discussed regional security with Baltic leaders in Riga

On Thursday, President Gitanas Nausėda attended the annual meeting of the Presidents of the Baltic States in Riga, where he discussed regional security challenges, EU and NATO cooperation, and joint strategic projects with the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, and the President of Estonia, Alar Karis.

The President emphasized that regional security and the protection of the EU's and NATO's external borders remain a priority. "Our attention must be focused on air defense capabilities and the Baltic defense line project. The Baltic states must strengthen cooperation in protecting the external border by implementing joint projects, creating a unified response system for air and sea incidents, coordinating decisions on border or airspace closures, combating crime, and managing illegal migration," said the President.

The Lithuanian President drew attention to growing hybrid threats, including airspace violations, instrumentalized migration, and weather balloons launched from Belarus, which pose a threat to critical infrastructure and civil aviation. The President stressed the need for more rapid EU-level initiatives to strengthen the protection of the eastern border, which would complement national projects, including the Baltic Defense Line.

During the meeting, the leaders focused on transatlantic relations. The President stressed that the presence of US troops in the region is critical to the security of the Baltic States. Possibilities for increasing US involvement through regional LNG purchases and gas supplies to Ukraine for the coming winter were also discussed.

Speaking about Ukraine, the Baltic presidents emphasized the need to continue increasing military and financial support, to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to raise the issue of Russia's accountability and reparations The President stressed that Ukraine is implementing the necessary reforms in the face of war and that EU accession negotiations must move forward so that Ukraine can join the European Union by 2030.

The meeting also focused on the progress of the Rail Baltica project and its importance for military mobility. The President expressed his hope that, with the help of European Union funding and close regional coordination, the project will be implemented. The President emphasized that the Baltic States are closely coordinating their actions on critical infrastructure related to the synchronization of electricity networks, security, and securing further EU funding. The possibilities of accelerating the construction of the Harmony Link connection together with Poland were also discussed.

While discussing the EU's multiannual budget, the President stressed that the EU's focus on the eastern flank and its security needs is particularly important. The Baltic States are the guardians of the EU's and NATO's external borders and critical infrastructure. Therefore, as the President stated, it is necessary to ensure adequate funding for strengthening the security of the eastern flank - from military mobility to defense industry investments across the continent.