Prime Minister at Warsaw Security Forum: Our Region Has a Responsibility to Actively Shape European Security
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, who is visiting Poland on a working visit, is taking part in the Warsaw Security Forum, a high-level international conference that brings together heads of state and government, representatives of NATO and the EU, military leaders and experts each year to discuss security and defence issues.
During a panel discussion on European security challenges amid global geopolitical shifts, the Lithuanian Prime Minister spoke with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
“No one will offer us, Europeans, a seat at the decision-making table out of courtesy alone. If we are to have a seat at that table, Europe must find greater strength, energy and unity within itself. Political commitments must be translated into action more quickly, and investment in national defence must deliver new defence capabilities. Strategies and plans are essential, but they are not what deters Russia. Our countries’ defence industries still fall short of actual production needs, so we must find ways to boost their capacity through closer cooperation, learning from Ukraine’s experience and developing capabilities based on the lessons it has learned. The more we do together - from sharing information and conducting joint procurement to joint production and exercises - the safer we will be,” Prime Minister Sinkevičius said.
He added that all these efforts must be accompanied by increased support for Ukraine, which is particularly important as winter approaches, as well as continued pressure on the aggressor.
NATO remains a cornerstone of transatlantic security. Greater European attention to its own security and a stronger sense of responsibility for it will make the Alliance more balanced and capable, Sinkevičius said.
Air defence, including counter-drone capabilities; the protection of critical infrastructure on land and in the Baltic Sea; more effective responses to hybrid threats; and military mobility are among Lithuania’s priorities, all of which are also important for NATO’s security as a whole.
Earlier today, the Lithuanian and Norwegian prime ministers also discussed bilateral cooperation, regional and European security, and other pressing issues at a bilateral meeting.
“Lithuania greatly values Norway’s contribution to the security of NATO’s eastern flank, our close ties and our like-minded partnership in formats such as the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8). Given our geographical proximity to Russia, its ongoing war and our active support for Ukraine, our region understands and feels these threats acutely. This also means that we have a responsibility to play an active role in shaping Europe’s security architecture - not individually, but together, in solidarity,” Sinkevičius said.
The prime ministers stressed that Lithuania and Norway share a common interest in ensuring security from the Baltic Sea to the Arctic.
Lithuania will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2027, while Norway will take over the chairmanship of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) next year. The prime ministers agreed that this presents a unique opportunity to strengthen decision-making on the security of the Nordic-Baltic region and committed to coordinating their efforts.
The two countries cooperate closely in defence. Notable examples include Norwegian NASAMS air defence systems protecting Lithuanian airspace and a memorandum signed by the two countries this year on developing advanced maritime capabilities and building naval vessels in Lithuania.
The meeting also highlighted opportunities to further develop the partnership in the defence industry, and the two leaders discussed support for Ukraine.