Lithuania's Defense Minister Visits the Philippines: Strengthening Commitment to Bilateral and Indo-Pacific Security Cooperation
The Philippines and Lithuania agreed to strengthen defense relations, as both countries face maritime security threats. On Monday, Lithuanian Defense Minister Rasa Juknevičienė, who visited Manila, stated in a joint press conference with Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation, elevating their bilateral relationship to a strategic level.
Lorenzana said, "We also have much to learn from Lithuania in terms of technology and resilience, as the minister mentioned earlier on a wide range of topics, and we look forward to deepening our relationship with Lithuania."
Earlier, Juknevičienė said she was honored to visit the Philippines, as she is the first Lithuanian defense minister to visit the country. She added that this marked an "enhanced commitment by the Philippines and Lithuania to bilateral and Indo-Pacific security cooperation."
The defense ministers discussed common concerns about regional security. Juknevičienė said, "We see great potential for cooperation with the Philippines in many areas, including shadow fleets of major powers and challenges posed by neighboring countries active in the South China Sea and the Baltic Sea."
Lorenzana pointed out that Juknevičienė's visit is a good example of "cooperation outside the region," which he discussed with her during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last May.
Lorenzana said, "This is one of the results - this visit is a result of the regional external partnerships that small countries, especially the Philippines and Lithuania, need to build, because we see common threats and common challenges, not only challenges from threatening actors but also challenges from situational considerations."
Lorenzana said it is necessary to uphold the correct application of international law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and other international norms, and to resist any attempts to unilaterally redefine international law, which could harm the interests of small countries that rely on international law for protection.
Lorenzana said, "To safeguard our territorial integrity and sovereignty, and manage our resources and natural gifts for future generations. This is indeed for sustainable development. In this context, the minister's visit is very welcome, precisely indicating that Lithuania, as an additional partner, an external regional partner, is firmly committed to the common cause of upholding international law."
In recent years, the Philippines has been building a network of defense partnerships with other countries. In addition to its main ally, the United States, the Philippines has signed force exchange agreements with Japan and New Zealand, and other defense cooperation agreements with countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
Source: rfi
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836362476151820/
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