2024-04-12 17:36:25
“In foreign policy, I feel that I have enough knowledge, experience and important contacts that would help to make the defense of our interests more effective. I like to communicate and collaborate. I believe that I would find a language and have enough arguments about our security to talk with Mr. Trump if we had to have a serious talk”, said I. Šimonytė at the presentation event of the presidential election program held on Friday.
Trump has been complaining about NATO for some time and has accused Western allies of being dependent. According to him, the members of the Alliance do not spend enough money on military expenses and take the US as a defensive shield for granted.
Most recently, D. Trump stated that after winning the US presidential election, he would not defend those NATO countries whose defense spending does not meet their obligations.
At that time, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasizes that 18 of the 31 NATO member countries will reach 2% in 2024. GDP defense spending target.
The position of the president opens up the possibility of not being tied to the party programs
According to I. Šimonytė, the position of the prime minister is limited by the ruling coalition, so this position does not allow to ensure the same sentiments of different political parties. Therefore, according to her, the post of president opens up opportunities that do not coincide with one party.
“The position of the prime minister is important, but has limits, it is called the governing coalition. When dealing with fundamentally important questions, all efforts must be focused on searching for a broad focus. So that both the left and the right feel equally heard in the consensus result”, said the candidate.
“We are in a time where we need strong leadership, not mystified unity, because that is not the true expression of democracy, but rational and pragmatic agreements that are best for our country.” The position of the president opens up opportunities not to be tied to the programs and worldview of specific parties, to gather political consensus on the most important issues, not to identify with one side in order to be above the other side of the balance,” she added.
Priority support for Ukraine
While presenting her program, the Prime Minister, who is aspiring for the position of the head of the country, emphasized the importance of aid and support to Ukraine.
“In reality, we have seen how fragile things are when an aggressor shifts gears and cynically crushes the democratic world until it pretends not to understand.” After starting in first gear, Putin drove around Europe slowly, long and confidently, he drove in limousines, confidently on red carpets, although instead of protocol bows he used blackmail-based Gazrpom and Rosatom lexicon, feeling like the dictator of the situation,” she said.
I. Šimonytė’s election program states that Ukraine is already stopping the spread of Russian aggression to Europe. However, according to her, in order to ensure the security of Lithuania, more efforts need to be made.
“We have not done everything, we are not doing everything necessary to prevent the rising gear from approaching our borders,” she emphasized.
ELTA reminds that the Lithuanian presidential elections will be held on May 12, 2024.
2024-04-12 17:36:25