The Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on National Security and Defence adopt a joint statement on Lithuania’s 21-year membership of NATO

Press release, 28 March 2025 (News ● Photos ● Broadcasts and videos)

While marking the 21st anniversary of Lithuania’s membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on National Security and Defence adopted a joint statement emphasising that, upon joining the strongest defensive Alliance on 29 March 2004, Lithuania had not only enhanced its national security but had also committed itself to upholding NATO’s principles of collective defence, shared democratic values, and the unity and solidarity of its members. This is particularly relevant given the complexities presented by the geopolitical shifts in the world and the region, the threats to the long-standing multilateral security architecture of Western democracies, and the challenges to international law and the rule of law as the basis for coexistence among states.

In the statement, the Committees stress that Lithuania’s responsible and active membership of NATO is a long-term strategic goal that ensures the future of our country and contributes to the overall security of Europe and the world, while the transatlantic relations are an integral and indispensable part of our national security and foreign policy. The joint statement underscores that a strong and united NATO is built on transatlantic relations grounded in mutual trust and solidarity, which remain a fundamental guarantee of security not only for Lithuania but also for Europe as a whole. Therefore, constructive cooperation with the United States and other NATO Allies on both political and military matters is a crucial factor in ensuring the security and stability of the region and the world.

The Committees reiterate Lithuania’s determination to actively contribute to the strengthening of the Alliance by allocating the funding necessary for deterrence capabilities and defence and by committing to increase the funding to 5–6 % GDP in 2026–2030, and call on the members of the Alliance to urgently allocate the defence funding commensurate with security threats and ensuring an effective NATO deterrence and defence policy, amounting to at least 3.5 % GDP, and to confirm this at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague.

While reaffirming Lithuania’s determination to fully support Ukraine, which is fighting against Russia’s aggression for its own statehood, democratic values and world order based on the rule of law, the Committees reiterate not only their support for Ukraine but also for Ukraine’s invitation to NATO as the only genuine security guarantee for Ukraine and for the future of a free, peaceful, democratic and indivisible Europe.

With the joint statement, the Committees call on the national parliaments of NATO member countries to support the national decisions necessary for sustainable defence financing, thereby strengthening the Alliance as a whole, and commit themselves to working together with NATO Allies and partners through parliamentary diplomacy and to strengthening the transatlantic relations in order to ensure peace and stability in our region and the world.

For the full text of the Joint Statement, please click here.

Inga Milašiūtė, Adviser, Office of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Office of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 209 6799, e-mail: [email protected]