Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia Strengthen Cooperation on Border Security and Hybrid Threats
Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland are stepping up their cooperation to strengthen the security of their external borders and to counter hybrid threats. This commitment is set out in a trilateral Declaration adopted jointly by Prime Minister of Lithuania, Inga Ruginienė, Prime Minister of Latvia, Evika Siliņa, and Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk.
“The countries in our region face a shared and evolving challenge in the form of hybrid threats. We clearly see that tactics tested by hostile regimes against one of our states is soon replicated against others. This requires us to take our cooperation to a new level—from enhanced information and expertise sharing to joint exercises and coordinated response mechanisms. These are not only our national borders; they are the external borders of the European Union, and by acting together, we can protect them more effectively,” said Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė.
The Declaration provides for strengthened cooperation to ensure the security of the external borders against hybrid threats, including instrumentalised migration, smuggling and other forms of organised crime, whether on land, sea and in the airspace.
Through the Declaration, the Parties express their intention to act along three lines of effort: preparedness, joint action and response. This includes sharing of information and analysis on hybrid attacks by Russia and Belarus; the identification and execution of joint projects, exercises, or other initiatives; cooperation in identifying responsibilities, techniques and tactics, as well as coordinating an effective response; and consultations on other mutually agreed actions in the field of external border control and the management of external border crossing points.
Joint Declaration of the Prime Ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland.