NATO is still finalising the documents of next week’s summit in Vilnius, but the alliance’s new regional defence plans have been agreed on, Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas said on Wednesday.
“The finalising of the documents either started last week or is starting today. The work is still ongoing,” Anušauskas told reporters.
“As far as the [defence] plan, the content and military assessment goes, everything has been agreed, but since some countries have certain reservations on other things, they are trying to hold the documents until agreement is reached on the acceptable wording of completely different documents,” the minister said.
“But I emphasise once again that when it comes to the military side and regional defence plans, there are no further military comments,” he added.
NATO’s new defence plans for the Baltic states and Poland were drawn up some time ago in response to threats from Russia.
In a reflection of the alliance’s changed posture, the plans basically provide for defence from the first days of a potential conflict. Previously, the approach was that the Baltic countries should try to hold off a Russian offensive until allied reinforcements can arrive to help them.
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