News

On 2 November, during his working visit to Berlin, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys met with Bettina Hagedorn, Chair of the German-Baltic Parliamentary Friendship Group in the German Bundestag, and members of the group.

The meeting focused on bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Germany, the regional security situation, support for Ukraine, European Union enlargement, and preparations for Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The Minister stressed that Lithuania and Germany have a strategic partnership built on strong political, economic and security ties, as well as a shared commitment to strengthening European and transatlantic security.

“Lithuania highly values Germany’s leadership in Europe and its steadfast commitment to strengthening the security of NATO’s eastern flank. Germany’s decision to permanently deploy a brigade in Lithuania is a historic step that clearly demonstrates Allied solidarity, the strength of the principles of collective defence, and our shared responsibility for European security. Cooperation between Lithuania and Germany,”  Budrys said.

The Minister thanked Germany for its significant contribution to security in the Baltic region, including its leadership of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence battlegroup in Lithuania, its participation in regional security initiatives, and its steadily increasing investment in defence.

Budrys noted that Lithuania remains firmly committed to providing the best possible conditions for the deployment of the German brigade. According to the Minister, infrastructure development is proceeding according to plan, while Lithuania is also strengthening its national capabilities with a view to ensuring the brigade’s full deployment in Lithuania by the end of 2027.

Speaking about support for Ukraine, Budrys emphasised that Europe’s security is inseparable from Ukraine’s security.

“We must maintain and increase our support for Ukraine, strengthen its defence capabilities, continue to exert pressure on Russia, and support Ukraine’s path towards the European Union. Ukraine’s victory and security are in the security interests of Europe as a whole,” the Minister said.

Budrys also expressed Lithuania’s expectation of Germany’s support in implementing the priorities of Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2027, namely security and defence, EU enlargement, the Union’s competitiveness, internal security, and migration.

During his visit to Berlin, Budrys will also participate in the Berlin Security Conference, at which Lithuania is this year’s partner country.