Budrys at the Baltic Council in Riga: A common, coherent strategy is needed to ensure regional resilience and counter hybrid threats

On 14 November, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Budrys attended the 31^st session of the Baltic Council held in Rīga. The Baltic Council is a trilateral format for parliamentary and governmental cooperation among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania-the Baltic Assembly-and the governmental body-the Baltic Council of Ministers.

In his speech, the head of Lithuania's diplomacy reviewed the security and defence issues of the Baltic states, the need for close regional integration in countering hybrid attacks by neighbouring authoritarian regimes against the Baltic states, including the response to the Belarusian regime's disruption of civil aviation with smuggler balloons and the threat they pose to flight safety, Ukraine's support needs, the importance of the transatlantic bond for regional security and NATO's increasing engagement on its eastern flank.

The implementation of regional defence initiatives - the drone wall and the Baltic defence line - was discussed.

"The unity of the Baltic states in the most difficult moments was our strongest weapon. Today, when neighboring authoritarian regimes dictate geopolitical reality, unity is more important than ever. We are at the forefront of European defence and its transformation. We need a focused, common strategy to ensure the resilience of the Baltic states against external influences, to counter hybrid threats, and to strengthen deterrence measures. Only a coordinated action based on shared values and a clear political will to act can guarantee the security, prosperity and long-term stability of our region," said Budrys.

The Minister also stressed the importance of strategic transport infrastructure and energy projects in the region. According to Budrys, this year, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia successfully synchronised their power grids with the continental European system and reached a geopolitical turning point, ending decades of dependence on Moscow systems and entering a new phase of strategic autonomy of the Baltic region. However, according to Budrys, it is necessary to continue the regional projects that have already been started.

"Russian aggression has revealed the strategic importance of transport and logistics connections for military mobility and economic resilience. Our interest is the smooth implementation of Rail Balica and Via Baltica and other regional critical infrastructure projects, ensuring the necessary funding through the new EU financial perspective's mechanisms", said the Minister.

In Rīga, the Baltic Council traditionally adopted a statement, assessing the Baltic states' cooperation in 2025 and outlining the guidelines for cooperation for the coming years.

Latvia holds the Presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers in 2025, and Estonia will take the helm in 2026.

Photos: The Saeima (Parliament) of Latvia