Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius discussed strategic issues with US Senators

Today, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius has met with the visiting U.S. senators, former Republican presidential candidate John McCain, John Barrasso, John Hoeven and Ron Johnson.

The Prime Minister has discussed bilateral cooperation and energy security issues, expressed concern over the situation in Ukraine, and expressed appreciation to the United States for the reinforced NATO air policing mission in the Baltic States.

“Lithuania takes NATO membership very seriously and makes all the efforts to fulfil the commitments as regards the increased funding for the defence”, said A. Butkevičius.

The Head of Government informed the guests about the agreement signed between the main political parties at the end of last month, which provides for an increased funding for national defence to 2 per cent of the GDP by 2020.

Senator McCain has assured the Prime Minister that the United States greatly appreciates the bilateral relations with Lithuania. He welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama’s statement on invoking on Article 5 of the Alliance in case of military threat to the Baltic States.

McCain has also expressed support for Lithuania’s energy independence.

Earlier today, the Senators visited the Lithuanian Air Force Aviation Base in Šiauliai, where the air-policing mission is effected by the U.S. troops.

In the face of Russian aggression in Ukraine, NATO has reinforced the Air Force Aviation Base in Šiauliai with extra U.S. fighters. Now the Baltic air space is policed by ten NATO fighters.

Senators have welcomed the good infrastructure of the base and the excellent Lithuanian-U.S. military cooperation.