Lithuania’s security focus has always extended across NATO as a whole, not only its eastern borders or the Baltic Sea, Budrys told LRT Radio on Friday.
“We should definitely consider it. There will be exercises, followed by further exercises 0 we are talking about a cycle,” he said. “Lithuania’s focus in discussions with its allies has never been solely on our border, the Suwalki Gap or the Baltic Sea.”
Security in eastern Europe is a shared responsibility of the entire alliance, he said, adding that Lithuania likewise has obligations toward other NATO members.
“Lithuania must participate in the NATO space in one capacity or another. We have our own contribution to offer,“ Budrys said. “This should be on the agenda if there is a need – of course, in consultation with our allies and with a clear view of how this can be done effectively.”
The minister stressed that discussions concerned routine military exercises, which he said would continue to be coordinated through established NATO mechanisms.
Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Netherlands have announced they will deploy military personnel to Greenland to begin preparations for larger exercises later this year.
Earlier in January, US President Donald Trump reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded that the United States has no right to annex any part of Denmark and urged Washington to stop threatening a long-standing ally.