Speaker of the Seimas: ‘This Summit is a historic opportunity to turn words into action’

Press release, 10 July 2024 

Photo by Juris Vigulis, the Office of the Parliament of Latvia

Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, who met with the Speakers of Parliaments of NATO countries in Washington yesterday, noted that meetings in this pre-Summit format strengthen the collective commitment to the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic region. She highlighted that the upcoming NATO Summit was a historic opportunity to turn words into action. This means that NATO decisions must reflect an unwavering commitment to defence and deterrence, pledge support for Ukraine, and provide a strategic response to global threats. For the first time in NATO’s history, a pre-summit meeting was held in Vilnius last year at the initiative of the Speaker of the Seimas, and the US continues this tradition.

In the words of Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen, in countries like Lithuania, situated on NATO’s eastern flank, immediate deterrence and defence are not just concepts but a tangible reality. While the country is doing all it takes to strengthen its defence on a national level, allied support is needed to protect not only Lithuania, but also NATO and everything it represents.

‘Defence requires financial input. Parliaments have a duty to show their citizens that defence spending is an investment, not merely an expense. We have already crossed the 3% threshold on defence spending in Lithuania. We expect other allies to follow suit by rapidly increasing their defence expenditure as well,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen said.

Since NATO unites the most technologically and industrially advanced countries in the world and has all the means to develop capabilities and deterrence, Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen is convinced that, ‘at the Summit, we must announce the commitment of the defence industry to strengthen transatlantic cooperation, send a demand signal to industries, and promote defence industry cooperation with our partners.’

Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen emphasised to her counterparts from the Parliaments of other NATO member countries that the topic of Ukraine remained of key importance.

‘While we were making preparations for the Summit, Russia went on with intense shelling of Ukrainian cities, hitting a children’s hospital. For two-and-a-half years, Russia has been systematically trying to create its own version of the Russian world, in which it is normal for mothers to look for their children under the rubble. That is precisely why we must set out our goals and priorities firm and take to resolute action,’ the Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament urged while presenting the crucial steps.

First of all, let us give Ukraine air defence so that it has what it needs to protect civilians, hospitals, and critical infrastructure. 

Secondly, Ukraine must receive all the necessary military support in time. The support should be provided without any conditions or restrictions. Ukraine has the sovereign right to defend itself under international law and to counter attacks from both Russia and its occupied territories. 

Thirdly, Ukraine must secure its place in the European Union and NATO. 

Fourthly, those responsible for this war must be held accountable. Justice demands compensation for the enormous damage done to the Ukrainian state, economy, infrastructure and, above all, to the people of Ukraine. 

‘In order to ensure international security, we need to work together with like-minded countries, deepen cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners, build resilience against cyber and hybrid threats, and develop defence industry cooperation. In brief, a strong, united and well-funded NATO, with Ukraine as its member, and cooperation with other democracies are the best path to attaining peace and stability beyond the Atlantic and around the world. The coming NATO Summit is hugely important in this respect,’ Ms Čmilytė-Nielsen concluded, delivering her speech in Washington.

Ilona Petrovė, Spokesperson for Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, tel.+ 370  5 209 6030, mob. + 370 698 42071, e-mail: [email protected], www.lrs.lt