Minister of National Defence: a breakthrough regarding the Air Policing mission has been achieved in the NATO Defence Ministers meeting

On February 2, Thursday, Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė while at the NATO Defence Ministers meeting in Brussels noted that a breakthrough had been achieved in the effort to have a prolonged Baltic Air policing mission in the Baltic States.

“A considerable attention was paid to the Air Policing mission in the today’s discussion on Smart Defence with the Ministers in the discussion with the Ministers. I am happy to know that the mission is considered as a perfect example of Smart Defence for NATO“, – the Lithuanian Minister said. According to R.Juknevičienė, it is very important that a long-term agreement had been achieved at the military level. “The Baltic States are committed to increase their contribution to the mission. It is very important to make appealing to our partners”, said the Minister.

According to the Minister, the following step before the Chicago Summit is to make an agreement regarding the future of the Air Policing mission at the political level.

In the meeting the Ministers supported the idea of Smart Defence and agreed that this mode of defence should not cause a decrease in defence financing. It was emphasized at the event that NATO continuously face a range of threats and challenges therefore Smart Defence is of great value to national forces of the member states. A declaration on Smart Defence is expected to be approved in Chicago. According to the Minister, it is a long-term direction that Lithuania has selected in realizing capabilities for the country’s and the Alliance’s security.

“Another important example of Lithuania’s input into the development of Smart Defence within the Alliance is the Centre of Excellence for Energy Security (ENSEC COE) in the process of establishment”, said R. Juknevičienė. According to the Minister, the initial conference on the ENSEC COE establishment is being held at the moment. The Minister also stressed that energy security will become one of the most important results of the Chicago Summit for Lithuania. It is a long-term task which will enable better application of energy resources in the armed forces.

Minister of National Defence and the NATO Defence Ministers will discuss the Kosovo Operation on Friday, perspectives of the operation Afghanistan, and transfer of responsibility as well as NATO’s role in Afghanistan after 2013.

Pictures by MOD: Minister of National Defence R. Juknevičienė and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen; at the meeting; Minister R. Juknevičienė and Defence Minister of Italy Giampaolo Di Paolo