The document was published at the Asia Defense and Security Forum “Shangri-La Dialogue” in Singapore, where the Minister of National Defense Robert Kaunas was visiting.
Read more From Merūnas – a harsh blow to a stage colleague
“This agreement outlines guidelines for cooperation between defense institutions in protecting strategic undersea cables and pipelines. The initiative’s partners emphasized that geographical barriers are not an obstacle to flexible responses to global hybrid threats in new defense areas,” the statement said.
Among those contributing to the declaration are the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Japan, France, and the Nordic countries.
At the event, R. Kaunas emphasized that today’s threats transcend regional boundaries, making mutual cooperation in fighting the aggressor a strategic necessity.
“Hybrid pressure – balancing on the edge of armed attack and using fabricated justifications – is not a challenge faced only by Europe. The same logic and structure, using different tools, are characteristic of the Asia region as well. Smaller countries should not be forced to face these threats alone,” the minister was quoted as saying in the statement.
He stressed that Lithuania and its Indo-Pacific partners are united by adherence to the same principles: rules-based order, the importance of sovereignty regardless of a country’s size, freedom of navigation, and each country’s right to independently choose partners.
According to the minister, defense “always rests on two poles – one’s own preparedness and cooperation with allies, partners, and like-minded countries.”
“We have excellent relations with Ukraine, jointly developing drone and electronic warfare technologies. While here in Singapore, I met with defense industry companies, and we discussed that we must develop technologies together, create reliable supply chains, and strengthen scientific research and experimental development,” R. Kaunas said.
Read more Invitation to the Lithuanian National Team for Šarūnas Jasikevičius’s Son
“This is exactly how small countries can participate in defense ecosystems and security assurance processes. I believe that Lithuania, together with other partner countries, can create an exceptionally strong deterrence mechanism,” he said.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, during the forum, the Minister of National Defense participated in a bilateral meeting with Singapore’s Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing.
Also on the sidelines of the event, R. Kaunas spoke with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles, Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, and ministers from European countries.
According to the Ministry of National Defense, the main focus was on regional security issues, including the security of critical underwater infrastructure and hybrid threats. Bilateral cooperation, cybersecurity, strengthening the defense industry, and support for Ukraine were also discussed.
During the visit, Minister R. Kaunas invited the Singapore defense industry company “ST Engineering” to conduct tests of its advanced anti-drone system in Lithuania.
“Shangri-La Dialogue” is a high-level event bringing together defense ministers and security experts from the Indo-Pacific, Europe, North and South America, and other world regions to discuss global security trends and challenges.
Lithuania is strengthening cooperation with Indo-Pacific region partners. Last year, a strategy for cooperation in security and defense was prepared. Lithuania plans to pay more attention to this direction at the European Union (EU) level as well, having taken over the EU Council presidency in 2027.
Read more Here visitors come to pray for a miracle, and return to give thanks: a unique place in Malta
