Lithuania hails Türkiye as key NATO ally with strong military

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene described Türkiye as a vital NATO ally with formidable military capabilities and strategic geographic positioning, emphasizing Vilnius's high regard for Ankara's contributions to Baltic security ahead of this week's alliance summit in Ankara.

NATO summit to focus on defense spending

In written responses to Anadolu Agency ahead of Monday's gathering, Ruginiene stated she expected the Ankara summit to reaffirm transatlantic unity and allies' commitment to their Washington Treaty obligations. "In this context, increasing defense spending and developing defense capabilities are of great importance to ensure a credible deterrence and defense posture," she said.

Ruginiene stressed that Lithuania expects the summit to advance the goal of allocating 5% of gross domestic product to defense, particularly by bolstering air defense capabilities to counter Russia. She noted that strengthening the defense industry remains a priority for the alliance, adding: "Allies need to increase production capacity, accelerate innovation and keep costs under control."

Russia identified as primary threat

Ruginiene identified Russia as the most direct long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security, stating that the Russia-Ukraine war has further degraded Europe's security environment. She condemned recent drone incursions from Russia and Belarus into Baltic airspace that affected NATO's eastern flank, warning that Moscow's aggression has fundamentally changed the strategic landscape.

"Our message must be clear. Russia's aggression against Ukraine, its military buildup and hybrid activities against allies have fundamentally changed Europe's security environment," she said. The prime minister added that continued military support for Ukraine remains vital, noting that Kyiv has gained battlefield momentum through allied contributions and that higher defense spending creates new economic opportunities.

Türkiye's role in alliance solidarity

Regarding Ankara's position within NATO, Ruginiene said: "Türkiye is an important NATO ally with strong military capabilities and a strategic geographic position. We highly appreciate Türkiye's solidarity with and contribution to the security of the Baltic region." She dismissed the concept of a "European pillar" within NATO as misleading, stressing that every ally must meet its commitments whether on spending or capability targets.

"NATO is an integrated structure in which every ally matters. Strong allies mean a strong NATO," she stated. Ruginiene noted that the transatlantic bond remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security and cannot be replaced by any other actor, even if the US role evolves.

The Ankara summit convenes on Monday and Tuesday as NATO members confront renewed pressure to increase military expenditures amid ongoing tensions with Moscow and concerns over hybrid threats along the alliance's eastern borders.