"We have the same challenges, the same neighbour"
Lithuania’s Defence Minister, Robertas Kaunas, travelled to the Norwegian border town of Kirkenes to discuss an expansion of cooperation. "You have the Kola Peninsula, we have Kaliningrad," he said after a meeting with Norwegian border guards.
Robertas Kaunas stands on the shore of the Pasvik River. On a hill on the opposite bank is a Russian watchtower and surveillance equipment.
For the Lithuanian defence minister, this is nothing extraordinary. His own country shares a heavily guarded border with Russia. Along the Pasvik River and in Lithuania alike, border guards protect the external border of the Schengen Area and NATO.
Lithuania is located next to Kaliningrad, a militarised region that hosts parts of Russia’s Baltic Fleet.
"We have the same challenges, the same neighbour. You have the Kola Peninsula, we have Kaliningrad," he told the Barents Observer.
"And we have Belarus," he added.
According to the minister, the Lithuanian and Norwegian sides must build a "joint understanding of how to fight propaganda" and also increase interoperability between the two countries’ armed forces.
"We must work together to create a necessary level of deterrence, and if necessary, we must defend our countries together."
According to Kaunas, Russia is strengthening its military presence, building new facilities, and training forces in both Kaliningrad and on the Kola Peninsula.
"They are not trying to stabilise the region and work for peace but rather increasing tension."
He also accused Russia of disinformation in connection with recent drone attacks.
"Russia is accusing Lithuania of allowing Ukraine to use our country, our airspace, to target Russia with drones. This is total disinformation; this is nonsense, and they are increasing pressure on our society with these lies."
Faced with mounting Russian threats, both Norway and Lithuania are investing heavily in their armed forces.
On the agenda for this week’s meeting was a possible Lithuanian acquisition of Norwegian military equipment. According to representatives of the Norwegian armed forces, the Lithuanians are interested in the Norwegian defence system NASAMS, as well as standardised naval vessels currently being developed by Norway.
"There is a lot going on in this cooperation," Norway’s Defence Minister, Tore O. Sandvik, said. He explained that the Lithuanians are also interested in learning about Norway’s military conscription system, which includes all young men and women.
The situation in Ukraine was high on the meeting agenda.
"Ukraine is defending not only itself but also Europe," Kaunas emphasised.
