Premiere: Lithuania’s NATO membership is a huge achievement and a privilege to build prosperity on the foundation of freedom, peace and security

“The 20th anniversary of Lithuania’s membership in NATO is a huge achievement for our country and a privilege to build prosperity on the foundation of freedom, peace and security. Only under a safe sky can democracy flourish, civil society can mature and survive, and a nation can spread its uniqueness and share it with the world. Today we have all this, and a large part of this success is the membership of the strongest defense alliance, which was purposefully and persistently pursued by many dedicated people of the state, its leaders and diplomats.

This privilege, which, unfortunately, the attacked Ukraine does not have, defending itself, the free world and its values, does not, however, turn security into a given, allowing us to forget that we ourselves are responsible for a safe tomorrow. This is the responsibility of each of us as a citizen and all together as a society. Our Ukrainian brothers and sisters remind us every day what strength lies in unity and the will to defend ourselves. Let’s develop and nurture this force, which together with NATO’s principle of strength – one for all, all for one – are the strongest, unbreakable foundations of our security”, said Prime Minister I. Šimonytė.