Around 40 heads of state and government are expected at the NATO summit in Vilnius. They must be protected by air defenses and thousands of soldiers and police.
The summit has been described in the media as the biggest event in Lithuania’s history.
In addition to the 40 heads of state and government, up to 2,400 civil servants and politicians are coming in 48 official delegations.
Up to 12,000 people will handle security around the summit, Paulius Nemira, responsible for the security service’s personal protection, stated, according to Lithuanian media, at a press conference last Monday. Among them are 3,000 Lithuanian soldiers and up to 1,000 soldiers from other NATO countries, as well as around 1,500 police officers.
The meeting is protected against attack from the air by long-range anti-aircraft such as Patriot and medium-range anti-aircraft by model Nasams. Anti-aircraft systems have been lent by Germany and Spain.
Lithuania borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and the capital Vilnius is just a few miles from the border with Russia’s ally Belarus.
Also in place in Lithuania are special units for defense against chemical, biological and nuclear warfare, according to Lieutenant Colonel Liutaurs Bagočiūnas, who also attended last Monday’s press conference. He also stated that NATO allies assist with weapon systems for protection against drones.
Flights by small aircraft, balloons and drones will be prohibited during the summit days.
The summit itself is held at the Litexpo fairgrounds in the western part of Vilnius. All flights within a 30 kilometer radius of Litexpo are prohibited while the summit is in progress. In addition, over a hundred flights from Vilnius have been canceled in the 28 hours due to all the arriving dignitaries, according to Vilnius Airport.
In the days around and during the summit, Lithuania has introduced temporary border controls against other EU countries.
THE FACTS NATO summit
Where? At Litexpo in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius
When? The NATO leaders arrive at 11 o’clock on Tuesday 11 July. The meeting ends with a press conference at 15.30 on Wednesday 12 July.
Who? In addition to the leaders of the 31 NATO countries, also Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson as leader of future NATO countries, as well as leaders of NATO’s partner countries.
What? The agenda includes support for Ukraine and the path to Ukraine’s future NATO membership, approval of NATO’s new regional defense plans, the adoption of a new target for NATO countries’ defense investments and an action plan to expand the capacity of the defense industry.
Source: NATO
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