Government of the Republic of Lithuania

12/12/2025 | Press release | Archived content

Baltic Prime Ministers in Riga Focus on Regional Security, Support for Ukraine, and Key Infrastructure Projects

12-12-2025

Baltic Prime Ministers in Riga Focus on Regional Security, Support for Ukraine, and Key Infrastructure Projects

On 12 December, a meeting of the Prime Ministers of the Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM) took place in Riga. The Prime Ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia - Inga Ruginienė, Evika Siliņa, and Kristen Michal - discussed issues of key importance to their countries and emphasised unity in the face of shared security challenges.

"Hybrid threats in our region and across Europe are intensifying, and their spectrum is broad - ranging from disinformation to airspace violations and disruption of civil aviation, cyberattacks, and the instrumentalisation of migration. We are united in our understanding of how we must act: by strengthening the resilience of the Baltic States, intensifying data sharing, further consolidating our efforts, and responding in a coordinated and rapid manner," Prime Minister I. Ruginienė said.

Such coordination and cooperation with partners are also particularly important in responding to Belarus's hybrid attacks, which deliberately create risks to international aviation security through the use of balloons carrying contraband, while passengers and airlines suffer significant losses and inconvenience.

The Prime Ministers of the Baltic States discussed the strengthening of NATO's eastern flank in cooperation with Allies and through EU defence and security initiatives, while underlining the importance of transatlantic unity.

The role of the United States is of particular importance in contributing to regional security, Prime Minister I. Ruginienė stressed. Lithuania is grateful to US President Donald Trump and his administration and highly values the presence of US troops in the region as well as long-standing cooperation.

Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia maintain a united and unwavering position: Ukraine's struggle and its outcome are a matter of security for the region and for Europe as a whole. This understanding underpins their ongoing and growing support.

The Baltic States will continue comprehensive support for the country under attack and will further urge partners to take the necessary decisions to ensure that Ukraine receives all the assistance it needs, while pressure on Russia and countries complicit in its aggression increases.

In discussing EU agenda issues, attention was given to the EU's multiannual financial framework and enlargement. The Heads of Government emphasised that without the EU membership of Ukraine and Moldova, the project of a secure and prosperous Europe will not be complete.

Another important part of the Prime Ministers' meeting agenda was the development of regional infrastructure. Rail Baltica is a strategic project for the entire region, vital for connectivity, military mobility, and economic growth. Therefore, as negotiations on the new EU multiannual financial framework approach, the Baltic States must jointly seek to ensure sustainable and sufficient financial support for the project.

I. Ruginienė thanked Latvian Prime Minister E. Siliņa for her smooth and effective chairmanship of the Baltic Council of Ministers this year and wished success to K. Michal and Estonia, which will assume the chairmanship in 2026.

Government of the Republic of Lithuania published this content on December 12, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 15, 2025 at 07:19 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]