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Roundup: Baltic countries aim for closer defense cooperation

Xinhua, May 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

The defense ministers of the Baltic States agreed on Thursday in Lithuania to enhance defense cooperation and to examine possibilities of developing a joint air defense system.

Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian defense ministers met on Thursday in Panevezys, Lithuania, to discuss Defense cooperation and military deterrence measures.

According to an announcement from Lithuanian defense ministry, after the meeting, Lithuanian Defense Minister Juozas Olekas, Estonian Defense Minister Sven Mikser, and Raimonds Vejonis, Minister of Defense of Latvia, signed a Joint Communique. All sides agreed to have a draft plan on developing possible mid-range air defense system by the fall.

Small Baltic countries are concerned on their airspace security. It's already eleven years since NATO allies started rotating air policing mission above the Baltic airspace.

STEPPING UP COOPERATION

The Baltic defense ministers also emphasized decisive actions in developing critical defense capabilities in the Baltic States are needed.

During the talks, the ministers agreed to step up security cooperation among the Baltic States as well as with neighboring Poland.

"Regional defense cooperation of the Baltic States is more critical than ever, our security assurance is our solidarity," Juozas Olekas, Lithuanian defense minister, said in a statement.

The Joint Communique included commitments on hosting support for allied troops, possibilities of joint military trainings in the region.

According to Lithuanian defense ministry, all sides agreed to improve coordination among their search and rescue systems in case of emergency in the countries.

Lithuanian defense ministry has recently faced harsh criticism due to lack of coordination and poor communication when searching for a missing civil plane which went missing in Baltic Sea in mid-May, the first such case in Lithuanian civil aviation history.

Colonel General Stepan Poltorak, Defense Minister of Ukraine, was invited to the Baltic Defense Ministers' meeting.

"The ministers underscored that the Baltic States were ready to continue rendering assistance to Ukraine for the development of its armed forces and the reform of its defense sector," announced Lithuanian defense ministry.

Baltic countries say facing increased security threats in the Eastern Europe since military conflicts between Ukraine and Russia erupted around a year ago. Endit