Baltic defence ministers emphasize importance of the NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence

Meeting in Daugavpils between Defence Minister Raimonds Bergmanis, Raimundas Karoblis, Defence Minister of Lithuania, and Margus Tsahkna, Defence Minister of Estonia, has concluded by signing a Joint Communique of the Ministerial Committee, emphasizing the importance of the NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in the region.

The Communique foresees close trilateral cooperation on regional security matters, as well as the implementation of the NATO Warsaw Summit’s decision to establish the enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic States and Poland, which demonstrates Allies’ solidarity, determination and unity.

The Communique also underlines the importance of strategic partnership with the United States, and welcomes the U.S. presence in the region and financial contribution towards the Reassurance Initiative in Europe. The Communique also points out to the Baltics' strong commitment to raise defense spending to 2 percent of GDP from 2018.

During the meeting ministrs visited the 34th National Guard Artillery Battalion where soldiers of this battalion train for better coordination between fire and mortar units, gun data computing, artillery and mortar fire monitoring and adjustment, terrain gun position correction and other skills vital for artillery and mortar unit soldiers.

As we reported earlier, on 1-2 June defence ministers of all three Baltic States met in Daugavpils to discuss the current regional defence and security issues.

In 1991 Baltic Council adopted a resolution on development of joint defence concept for Baltic States. On 2 June 1992, Baltic defence ministers signed a memorandum of understanding, formalising the cooperation between the defence ministries of all three Baltic countries in the area of joint security. Such cooperation is aimed at developing national defence structures in all three states. It also promotes the development and application of capabilities, compatibility with defence resources of allied states. Another objective of joint cooperation is to ensure smooth coordination in scope of peace-keeping and crisis management operations.

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