NATO Secretary General and Lithuanian Prime Minister Meet to Discuss Regional Defence and Ukraine Support
Places named in this headline: Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius at NATO headquarters on Tuesday to discuss regional security, eastern flank defence, and ongoing support for Ukraine. The meeting marked Sinkevičius's first visit to the alliance's headquarters since taking office.
During the discussions, Rutte reaffirmed the alliance's commitment to defending allied territory against all threats. He referenced an incident on September 15 in which Italian fighter jets operating under NATO from Šiauliai Air Base shot down a drone that had entered Lithuanian airspace, citing it as an example of collective defence in practice.
Rutte outlined measures NATO is taking to reinforce its integrated air and missile defence, including the "NATO's Drone Edge" initiative aimed at scaling up drone capabilities. He also noted the alliance's ongoing presence in the Baltic Sea, forward-deployed land forces in Lithuania, and infrastructure investments at the Rūdninkai training area.
According to Rutte, Lithuania is projected to spend 5.38% of its gross domestic product on defence this year, describing the nation's expenditure as setting a benchmark among allies.
Addressing the situation in Ukraine, Rutte stated that Lithuania has committed to allocating at least 0.25% of its GDP annually to military assistance for Kyiv. He added that Lithuania is directing $38 million toward Ukraine's defence industry and providing support to safeguard Ukrainian energy infrastructure and railway networks, asserting that allied aid to Ukraine would continue to increase.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
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