Lithuania: NATO’s new defence plans are complete: Defence Minister

NATO has agreed on new regional defence plans for the Baltic States and Poland, but is still finalising the documents of the forthcoming summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, Lithuania’s Defence Minister, Arvydas Anusauskas, announced, BNS reports. He said that some countries are still trying to hold the documents until agreement is reached on completely…

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Lithuania: Europe ignoring Baltic warnings yet again: Grybauskaite

Europe said that the Baltic States were right about Russia, but is ignoring us again, Lithuania’s former president, Dalia Grybauskaite, said, LRT reports. Speaking at a conference on the war in Ukraine at Vilnius University, Grybauskaite noted that when Baltic politicians warned Western leaders after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014, they were ignored,…

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Lithuania: NATO sends more warships to Baltic Sea

NATO has sent more warships to the Baltic Sea ahead of the defence alliance’s Vilnius summit, Giedrius Premeneckas, commander of the Lithuanian Navy, announced, BNS reports. Premeneckas said that allied ships ensured air surveillance, maritime situation surveillance, and interoperability. The allied naval force includes German, Italian, Polish, and US ships. The NATO summit will take…

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Lithuania: No veto on NATO summit declaration on Ukraine: presidential adviser

Lithuania will not veto NATO’s Vilnius summit declaration on Ukraine’s membership even if the text is unsatisfactory, Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, stated, LRT reports. She emphasised the importance of unity within the defence alliance, noting that efforts were being made to secure the best possible outcome for Ukraine…

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Lithuania: 12,000 officers, troops to safeguard NATO summit in Vilnius

The NATO summit in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, is set to have unprecedented security measures in place, with approximately 12,000 officers and soldiers assigned to ensure security, BNS reports. This is the first time that Lithuania is hosting an event of such magnitude. The summit will welcome 48 foreign delegations with 2,400 members, including 40 heads…

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Lithuania: NAFO to hold “summit” against Russian disinfo in Vilnius

The online group of anti-disinformation activists, North Atlantic Fella Organization (NAFO), will hold a “summit” in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, ahead of the upcoming summit of NATO leaders, LRT reports. The community has evolved into an international movement that counters Russian propaganda through sarcasm, ridicule, and witty images. With no clear structure, NAFO operates in a…

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Lithuania: Vilnius to hide old trolleybuses during NATO summit

The authorities in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, will remove old trolleybuses from city traffic temporarily for the duration of the NATO summit on 11-12 July 2023, LRT reports. The municipal public transport company, Vilniaus Viesasis Transportas, will remove old Skoda trolleybuses from traffic and have new trolleybuses running in the city during the summit. Also, bus…

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Estonia: Parliamentary defence committee concludes visit to Ukraine

The National Defence Committee of Estonia’s parliament, the Riigikogu, has concluded its visit to Ukraine, Postimees reports. The MPs met with several representatives of the Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, and high-ranking officials. The committee insisted that the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius must send a clear message to Ukraine about its NATO membership prospect….

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Lithuania: Foreign Minister urges Hungary not to delay Sweden’s NATO bid

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, urged Hungary not to delay the ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership until autumn 2023, Baltic News Network reports. He emphasised the importance for Hungary to fully comprehend the implications that such a delay could have on the security of the entire NATO alliance, particularly in the Baltic region. Earlier, the…

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