According to the exercise scenario, soldiers forcibly boarded a ship that did not comply with legitimate demands, took control of it, and demonstrated the medical evacuation of an injured person by helicopter, the Presidency reported.
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The Lithuanian leader emphasized that the ability to conduct operations of this nature is becoming increasingly important in strengthening security in the Baltic Sea region.
“Incidents in the Baltic Sea in recent years have shown that protecting critical infrastructure requires not only close cooperation among allies, timely information exchange, but also real operational capabilities. We must be prepared to respond quickly and decisively to any threats,” said G. Nausėda.
According to him, exercises of this kind strengthen the readiness of Lithuanian institutions to respond to potential threats at sea, increase interoperability with allies, and contribute to the security of the Baltic region and the protection of critical infrastructure.
“Several countries have already conducted such actions under real conditions, so Lithuanian institutions must also have the necessary capabilities and be prepared to use them,” the statement said.
G. Nausėda stressed that the threat posed by Russia to regional security once again confirms the need to continue strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense on the eastern flank.
According to him, it is important to ensure continuous and sufficient NATO attention to the Baltic region, maintain allied military presence, and continue to properly fund NATO activities that enhance security in the Baltic Sea, such as the “Baltic Sentry” mission.
With a visit to Klaipėda, the Latvian president concluded his state visit to Lithuania.
