News

Wednesday, September 3, Tallinn - President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with U.S. President Barack Obama in Tallinn. The meeting which was also attended by Latvian and Estonian presidents focused on Baltic-U.S. cooperation in defense and security.

According to the President, Lithuania and the United States of America are reliable partners who understand that the security of the United States and Europe is indivisible. This principle is especially important today. The ongoing military aggression against Ukraine poses a threat not only to Ukraine's survival, but also to our security. Lithuania values U.S. leadership in ensuring the defensibility of the Baltic States. NATO must take all the necessary measures to ensure the security of the Baltic countries and stop Russian aggression in Europe.

The Baltic leaders met with the U.S. president ahead of the NATO summit which will begin tomorrow in Wales. At the summit, Lithuania together with Latvia and Estonia will seek the renewal of NATO defense plans, enhanced readiness of the Alliance to respond quickly to threats, and a more visible NATO presence in the region. The Baltic countries will need U.S. support to achieve this.

According to President Grybauskaitė, the United States has a profound interest in the territorial integrity and security of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. This was established in the Baltic Charter, signed by the four countries in 1998, and was reiterated in the political declaration of the U.S. and Baltic presidents last year in Washington.

When Russia started military aggression in Ukraine, the United States was the first to reinforce the Baltic air policing mission and to send its troops for joint military exercises. The U.S. Congress will soon consider a $1 billion financial support initiative for strengthening defense capabilities in Europe. 

Press Service of the President

http://president.lt/en/press_center/press_releases/meeting_with_president_barack_obama_security_guarantees_for_lithuania.html