Move FM Global News

TALLINN, Estonia: The US is ready to defend the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – if required, and will keep its military presence in the region, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said this week.

“We are committed to Article 5, you can bet on that,” he added.

Speaking in Tallinn after talks with Estonian leaders, he said, “The US remains steadfastly committed to the freedom and sovereignty of our Baltic allies.”

“Estonia is working to prevent it coming under attack if Russia is not stopped in Ukraine. Deterrence is the one key word here. This is exactly why NATO is coming up with new regional defense plans that will hopefully be approved at NATO’s Vilnius summit in July,” Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

Austin also stressed that the US will further support Ukraine with military equipment, adding that he expects Russia’s “ill-equipped and ill-trained” military personnel to continue experiencing heavy losses.

“This fight will continue to evolve, and we will do everything we can, working together, to ensure that we are providing them the means to be successful. In terms of whether or not we can get equipment there in a timely fashion, this is something that we are working on each and every day,” he added.