Karis at state dinner in Lithuania: The Baltic states must not be left alone

TALLINN – Speaking at a state dinner in Lithuania, President Alar Karis emphasized that the Baltic states must not be left alone.

"As Baltic neighbors, we are bound not only by the past, but our present and future are also inextricably intertwined in our common security space. We here in the Baltic region know well that freedom is not something that is achieved once and then taken for granted. Freedom requires safeguarding. Freedom demands wise and courageous choices. Freedom requires action. Freedom is a verb," Karis said.

According to him, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are, figuratively speaking, in the same boat. "Keeping this boat afloat in the current of freedom and independence requires that we row in the same rhythm, with a common goal and shared responsibility. This is exactly what we are doing. Both Estonia and Lithuania have increased their defense spending to over five percent to decisively strengthen their defense capabilities. We work hand in hand with all our allies because we know that security is born from readiness and unity. We must not be left alone or on our own," Karis emphasized.

"With the same determination, we will continue our military assistance and political support for Ukraine. The Baltic states, together with the Nordic countries, have been at the forefront of this effort, doing more than our size might at first suggest. We do this because we understand that Ukraine is fighting for our security and that of all of Europe. It is fighting for all of us," Karis continued.

According to him, a just and lasting end to this war is as important as any investment in our own defense, readiness, and allied relations. "Russia will remain a long-term threat to our region. This knowledge, however, does not frighten us but obliges us to act soberly, decisively, and jointly. We do not allow ourselves any illusions," Karis said.

He highlighted that through the cooperation of the Baltic states, a decisive step was taken to end energy dependence on Russia and to disconnect from Russia's electricity system. This was a strategic, as well as a moral, choice. The same determination and results-oriented action are also needed for the development of Rail Baltica and Via Baltica.

"These are not just infrastructure projects or merely more convenient and faster connections. They are our connections to the rest of Europe. They are tools to prevent marginalization. These connections are linked to military mobility and our region's defense capabilities," Karis said.

But the spirit of the age is not only expressed in weapons, infrastructure, or budget lines. "Our close business ties are an important dimension of the relationship between our two countries. We are each other's closest home markets for both economic cooperation and constructive competition. Economic success is part of our security and our international attractiveness," Karis said.

Culture, he said, is just as important. "Culture is not a secondary issue to security, but an integral part of it. Culture helps people to make sense of freedom, to create identity and roots, to maintain self-belief, and to strengthen cohesion. This is precisely what helps our people to endure even under hostile pressure," Karis said.