Europe needs United States to effectively deter Russian aggression - Nauseda
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said that without the United States as a NATO partner, it would be very difficult for Europe to deter Russian aggression, emphasizing the importance of strengthening economic ties with the United States.
He said this before the start of an informal meeting of EU leaders in Brussels, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrinform.
"We need the United States on our side because I can't imagine how we can deter Russian aggression in Europe without our close ally and close partner in NATO, the United States. So we have to move to a positive economic agenda with the United States. We must buy more liquefied natural gas from the United States, as my country does," Nauseda said.
Reportedly, Lithuania already meets about 52% of its gas needs through supplies from the United States, reducing its dependence on Russian gas. Nausėda also suggested considering free trade agreements, particularly in the automotive industry, to strengthen economic ties between Europe and the United States.
"Another possible cooperation with the United States is the purchase of military equipment from the United States - this is an issue that creates a constructive, not a destructive economic agenda. And these are the issues that we need to discuss very seriously, because time does not stand still, it is a very valuable asset. Ukrainians are fighting for this precious asset," he said.
The President of Lithuania called for quick and effective solutions to key security and economic issues, emphasizing the importance of EU unity in these matters.
"First of all, we must remain united. Regardless of whether we are talking about economic tariffs or Greenland. We cannot postpone decisions on all the issues we discuss. Sometimes this is a problem because we are not ready to make decisions quickly and efficiently. But I hope that we now understand this harsh geopolitical reality of today," Nauseda emphasized.
