Latvian and Lithuanian Defence Ministers discuss sharing maritime surveillance data

On February 5 Latvian Defense Minister Raimonds Vējonis met with his Lithuanian counterpart Juozas Olekas during his first foreign visit to Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania to discuss future bilateral cooperation.

"Closer defense cooperation between Latvia and Lithuania will strengthen not only regional but also NATO's defense capabilities," said R.Vējonis. He mentioned exchange of maritime surveillance information as one of the potential areas for cooperation, which would help significantly reduce the time spent on search and rescue operations at sea.

The Latvian and Lithuanian defense ministers are considering cooperation on exchanging information obtained from the maritime surveillance systems.

The ministers also discussed the Baltic states' tripartite cooperation, as well as involvement in Afghanistan after the end of the transition period in 2014. As part of bilateral cooperation, the ministers agreed to share EU presidency experience.

At the air base near the northern Lithuanian city of Sauliai Vejonis met with the commander of the US air policing unit and discussed the Baltic host country's support for the NATO troops policing the Baltic states airspace.

NATO started the Baltic air policing mission in March 2009. It has now been extended until 2018.

Daina Ozolina
Media Relations Division
Senior Desk Officer
Phone: 67335224
E-mail: daina.ozolina@mod.gov.lv