On December 21, Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian defense ministers agreed to jointly develop a rocket artillery capability.
In their joint statement, the ministers “declared their intent to engage in a joint development of regional interoperable Multiple Launch Rocket System capability”.
“I cannot say specifically right now how it will look like, as we only have applications, in this case, to the United States of America that has such technology in its disposition,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas told reporters.
He added the plans might become a “good response” to Russia’s announced red lines.
“Pootin wants Poland and the Baltic States not to be defended, for attack weaponry not to be stationed, no American presence and in fact no NATO presence. I think we cannot accept that,” Anusauskas said.
In Lithuania’s Kaunas, Anusauskas and his Latvian and Estonian counterparts Artis Pabriks and Kalle Laanet discussed regional security issues and cooperation within the EU and NATO.
Laanet said he was “extremely glad we have commonly agreed with a Letter of Intent on an extremely important capability development project for our region – to develop a Multiple Launch Rocket System in all three countries”.
“This is a huge step forward for our common capability development and advancing the deterrence and defense posture in the region,” the Estonian minister said. (LRT/Business World Magazine)