Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has called for a “strong and decisive” response to attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea during his meeting with Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs on Thursday.
“Attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea require a strong and decisive response. It is important to act together and mobilise all available means to prevent hostile regimes from carrying out malicious activities in our waters,” Lithuania foreign minister was quoted in a press release.
Budrys argues that the situation in the Baltic Sea calls for immediate action to ensure the security of critical infrastructure by expanding NATO patrols, imposing sanctions on Russia’s shadow fleet, and revising navigation rules, according to the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.
Several underwater cables have been damaged in the sea recently, prompting NATO to step up its military presence in the area.
The Estlink 2 electricity cable and four telecom cables linking Finland and Estonia were damaged in a suspected sabotage attack on December 25.
This occurred just weeks after other Baltic Sea cables were severed in similar incidents that experts and politicians say are part of Russia’s “hybrid war” against EU countries.
In their Thursday morning meeting, Budrys and Rinkēvičs also discussed security in the region, energy resilience, enhancing defence capabilities, and supporting Ukraine.
The Lithuanian foreign minister emphasised the importance of continuing military, financial, and political support for Ukraine and rallying allies for this goal.
Both Lithuania and Latvia have pledged to allocate 0.25 percent of their GDP to military assistance for Ukraine.
“It is important to keep Ukraine in the international spotlight. Ukraine’s victory – a lasting and sustainable peace – is a guarantee of a secure future for the whole of Europe,” Budrys said.
The Lithuanian and Latvian politicians also discussed military spending by NATO members.
Lithuania’s 2023 budget earmarks up to 4 percent of GDP for defence.
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