Latvia, Lithuania Agree Joint Air Defense Acquistion Program

Latvia and Lithuania have considered a joint purchase of medium-range air defense systems.

Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite met Latvian counterpart Raimonds Vejonis, in Vilnius on Monday. "We discussed issues related to strengthening military cooperation, including the joint acquisition of weaponry, especially air defense", Grybauskaite was quoted as saying by Baltic Times news daily at a joint press conference.

"The joint purchasing would be cheaper and more beneficial," Grybauskaite added.

"Poland could also join the process," Vejonis said.

In May, the defense ministers for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania discussed plans to develop a joint air defense system in response to security concerns over Russia's activity in the region.