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The Prime Minister of Lithuania stated that despite the sharp escalation of tensions with neighboring countries Belarus and Russia, Lithuania has never been safer.
Ingrida Simonyte told the Financial Times that Belarus’ forced landings on Ryanair flights to Athens and Vilnius and the arrest of a dissident on board indicated that “you cannot rule out anything” and “must be Be prepared for anything”, the president’s regime Alexander Lukashenko.
NATO has Strengthen safety Since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland. Multinational battalions headed by the United States and Germany have been stationed in each country, and air policing has been increased.
“In a paradoxical way, Lithuania has never been safer than it is now. Unfortunately, the region is becoming more unstable than it was 10 years ago.
“Some things that people can only imagine, such as redrawing national borders, have actually happened,” Simonite said.
Lithuania has become one of the most outspoken defenders of freedom and democracy, attracting Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Zihanusskaya and journalist activist Roman Protasevich, who was arrested last Sunday. Dissidents.
It has repeatedly warned Western countries of the danger of weakness to Russia, and has stood up against China in recent months, calling its suppression of Uyghur minorities a genocide, and withdrew from the 17+1 bloc in Central and Eastern European countries and Beijing.
The Prime Minister of Lithuania stated that it is vital for the European Union to respond quickly to Belarus’s forced landing of aircraft, because Minsk’s strategy is to “compress all the freedoms that we cherish in the EU”.
Simonite added that the EU should consider “various Sanctions“The opposition to the Lukashenko regime includes different sectors of its economy, its ability to raise funds in the financial market, and participation in the Ostrovets nuclear power plant near Vilnius, which Lithuania has long opposed.
Simonite will not discuss countermeasures to protect Belarusian dissidents and key allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny who is also in Lithuania.
“We all know this story novichok in the UK. I am afraid that these are regimes that have not ruled out anything. We remain vigilant, we remain cautious,” she added.
In recent years, the security commitments of NATO and the United States and their own record of achieving the military alliance’s defense spending target of more than 2% have made the Baltic States feel at ease.
But their Nordic neighbors Sweden, Norway and Denmark Alarm bells sounded Russia’s activities in the Baltic region Scramble to Increase one’s own expenses.
Simonite said that more work needs to be done in the Baltic region, especially in enhancing air safety. “We are safer and more prepared than ever before. But this is not the end of the story. This world based on treaties, values and rules is being rearranged. This means that our NATO partners still have reason to think it needs Strengthen it further,” she said.
In the nearest united states Exempt from sanctions On the Beixi No. 2 pipeline, which will transport Russian natural gas to the Baltic Sea and has strong support from Germany, Simonite warned that economic interests have caused allies to “turn a blind eye to some unpleasant things”.
She said that the United States and Germany may think they are strong enough to resolve any disputes with Russia bilaterally.
“Maybe this is [justified] But it is important not to deviate from basic values. You are increasing your dependence on a country different from yours,” she said.
The Financial Times has also conducted a financial review of Lithuania in recent weeks. Report German prosecutors suspect that a Lithuanian fintech company was used to steal more than 100 million euros Line card Before it collapsed last year.
Simonite said Lithuania “is not a Blind Some suspicious activities in exchange for more market participants.”
She said that there is no need for more supervision, but perhaps more resources, especially the financial police.
She said that the Lithuanian Central Bank pays close attention to security risks in countries such as Russia and Belarus, which are trying to use the financial system by closely checking owners, sources of funds, and “any connection with the regime.”
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