President Duda once again emphasized the danger of a hybrid war that Belarus and Russia are waging against
Lithuania, Poland, Finland, and the whole Baltic region.
He also underlined the importance of such military drills as
Brave Griffin and Dragon 24, which prepare NATO allies for the defense of Suwałki Gap and the
whole eastern flank of NATO.
The Lithuanian President stressed his agreement with President Duda that the current level of defense spending in NATO countries, at 2% of GDP,
“is insufficient in today's dynamic and complex times.”
“We observed the crossing of the Vistula River by allied forces in Poland, from the west towards the east, precisely so that in case of necessity, allied units would be able to defend the Suwałki Corridor (...) one, undoubtedly, of the most strategic locations in the world, which today - unfortunately, we must clearly state - is under potential threat,” said President Duda.
“We must work together to convince NATO partners to increase defense spending,” he emphasized, also recalling the need to implement decisions from the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius.
Nauseda also mentioned that Lithuania is currently discussing how to allocate 4% of GDP for defense spending in his country.
The Brave Griffin
The “Brave Griffin” exercises form a crucial component of the NATO Steadfast Defender-24 training program. Involving a total of
1,500 soldiers and close to 200 military assets, the drills saw participation not only from Polish and Lithuanian troops but also from allied forces representing Portugal and the United States.
Amidst ongoing exercises in the Suwałki Gap, the Polish Battalion Battle Group from the 15th Mechanized Brigade, named after Zawisza Czarny, is
actively engaged, comprising nearly 200 soldiers and 50 vehicles.
After the exercises, the presidents will travel to Kaunas to take part in the “The Idea of Europe Forum” conference at Vytautas Magnus University. This event serves as a platform to commemorate the
20th anniversary of Poland’s and Lithuania’s accession to the European Union.
