In a meeting with NATO Assistant Secretary General Defence Investment Patrick Auroy Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė stated that Lithuania expected the Alliance to take a significant step towards forming NATO’s missile defence system, Ministry of Defence reports.

“Hearing a strong message at the NATO Summit in Chicago is really important to us”, the Minister said. Smart Defence-related projects by NATO were also addressed at the meeting.

“We support the principles of smart defence to the greatest extent and air-ground surveillance project undertaken by NATO is critical to us”, said R. Juknevičienė. The Assistant Secretary General pointed out that cooperation among the Baltic States is exemplary to all the NATO members in terms of Smart Defence. P. Auroy congratulated Lithuania on the NATO’s decision to further the Baltic Air Policing mission and lauded the efforts of the Baltic States to increase Host Nation Support.

Moreover, R. Juknevičienė noted at the meeting Lithuania’s anticipation that certain NATO rules on the transfer of military technologies to non-NATO countries would be compiled. “More transparency means more security”, she stressed.

At the meeting security situation in the neighborhood was reviewed. According to the Minister of National Defence, a growing military activity of Russia is observed in the region along the western borders, and Russia updates its equipment.

The Assistant Secretary General P. Auroy also met with Vice Minister of National Defence Mykolas Juozapavičius and Director General for Capability and Armaments Brig Gen Almantas Leika.

The programme of the NATO Assistant Secretary General’s one day visit also foresees a stop-by at the Energy Security Centre and a lecture for the cadets of the Gen Jonas Žemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy.