President: Healthy preparation for total global defense at all levels
“We are living in a time of political and geopolitical challenges, with major shifts in Europe. Conventional and hybrid threats have increased. The war in Ukraine and the integration of Russia and Belarus pose new challenges for Lithuania. We are not a bridge between East and West. Lithuania is clearly a part of Western civilization, a small part of its eastern outpost. “We understand the threats accordingly and choose allies,” said the President.
Speaking about foreign policy, the President emphasized that Lithuania’s interest was to strengthen Western structures, first of all the European Union and NATO. Through them and thanks to them, Lithuania can most effectively pursue the goals and interests of its foreign policy. “For example, the NATO summit in Vilnius in 2023. and Lithuania’s Presidency of the European Union in 2027 “Let’s discuss what we want to achieve now and work purposefully,” the president said.
According to the Lithuanian leader, the country’s interests are most effectively expressed together with allies who share the same values: the United States, Poland, Germany, and the Nordic and Baltic countries. According to the head of state, the party agreement should include local and European politics: green course, innovation, digitization, economic diplomacy.
“The principle of total defense must be enshrined not only in the state’s general defense plan, but also in the peacetime readiness to carry out the tasks of mobilization and organize civil resistance. We must prepare for total global defense at all levels, from NATO to every citizen. I am glad that for 3%. There are no party objections to the allocation of GDP for national defense, and this could be enshrined in the agreement between the parties, ”said the President.
According to the head of the country, civil security and defense must be distinguished as a separate area of preparation for the country’s defense. It is necessary not only to centralize governance, clarify responsibilities, but also to create a separate long-term program for strengthening national security and to provide for and implement adequate resources.
“The current urgent priorities are to ensure the protection of our external border (its construction with modern security), effective civil preparedness and crisis management, cyber defense and the fight against disinformation. Together with the international community, to work hard to close down the Astravas NPP, ”the President emphasized.
According to the President, foreign intelligence capabilities must be sufficiently identified and monitored for external threats, warned about the actions of hostile regimes against Lithuania and its union, and it is necessary to continuously invest in intelligence technology.
“In Lithuania, it is important to have wider discussions and consultations on the implementation of essential foreign, security and state defense policies. Our goal is united – to ensure the timely adoption of decisions that are most vital for the state of Lithuania and its people, and the continuity of this policy, ”said the President.
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