BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 26. Lithuania’s
Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė met on September 24
with Spain’s Minister of Defence Margarita Robles Fernández during
her visit to Šiauliai, where she met with Spanish military
personnel stationed in Lithuania, Trend reports.
The ministers discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation,
enhancing air defense in the Baltic region, and continued support
for Ukraine.
Minister Šakalienė highlighted that security remains a top
priority for Lithuania and underlined the importance of NATO’s
presence in the region. She thanked Spain for its significant
contribution, noting that Spanish fighter jets are currently flying
their ninth rotation of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic
states out of Šiauliai. Spain was also the first ally to send
additional aircraft as part of the enhanced NATO Air Defence
Model.
The Lithuanian minister emphasized that investment in defense
must focus on strengthening the eastern border area to ensure
credible deterrence. She called for enhanced NATO cooperation in
areas such as unmanned aerial systems, jamming technologies, and
ground-based air and missile defense capabilities, expressing hope
that Spain would continue to play a central role in Lithuania’s
efforts to strengthen regional security.
Šakalienė also pointed out Lithuania’s defense priorities,
including developing infrastructure to host allied forces and
building an infantry division equipped with tanks, air defense, and
other key capabilities. Beginning in 2025, Lithuania will allocate
5.25 percent of GDP to defense — one of the highest levels in NATO.
Additionally, the country will use 6.4 billion euros in EU funding
through the SAFE initiative to fully develop its infantry division
by 2030 and implement the Baltic Defence Line.
Meanwhile, air defense was a key focus of the talks. Šakalienė
said Lithuania has already launched operations near the border with
Belarus using ground-based assets and mobile fire units, while also
planning to acquire more sensors and systems for drone detection
and neutralization.
The ministers reaffirmed their strong commitment to supporting
Ukraine. Lithuania will continue financing Ukraine’s defense
industry to expand weapons production and accelerate the delivery
of critical equipment, while Spain remains an active partner in
weapons production and supplies.
Šakalienė thanked Spain for joining the Demining Coalition,
co-led by Lithuania and Iceland, which this year aims to train and
equip eight of Ukraine’s explosive ordnance disposal
battalions.
Spain is currently contributing four Eurofighter Typhoon jets to
NATO’s Air Policing Mission in Šiauliai and also has air defense
capabilities deployed in Latvia and Estonia.
Spanish personnel serve in NATO’s multinational battlegroup in
Latvia, contribute to the alliance’s maritime presence in the
Baltic Sea, and provide training for Lithuanian Air Force troops
and fighter aircraft controllers.