Lithuanian PM: CIA director's Moscow visit sends clear message to Kremlin

Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius believes the recent unannounced visit of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director to Moscow carries significant symbolic weight. He stated that the visit sends a clear message to the Kremlin, indicating that the United States remains attentive to European security and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

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The undeniable message of this visit is that our strategic partners across the Atlantic are sending a clear signal to Moscow, to Russia, that they are watching, they see, and they care.

"The undeniable message of this visit is that our strategic partners across the Atlantic are sending a clear signal to Moscow, to Russia, that they are watching, they see, and they care," Sinkevičius said during a joint press conference with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. He emphasized that this attention is not solely focused on the Middle East or Iran, but that a significant focus remains on Europe and Ukraine.

Sinkevičius further commented on the regional security landscape, noting that while the geopolitical situation remains unstable, the immediate military threat level has not escalated. However, he cautioned that this does not preclude the possibility of increased hybrid attacks, drone incidents, or instrumentalized migration from Belarus. "This is not a calm period. The geopolitical situation is not calm, it is not stable, and we, as sovereign countries, must collectively prepare, get ready, and invest in our security and defense," he urged.

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Eyes are not only turned to the Middle East, Iran, but attention to Europe, attention to Ukraine has remained. I think the purpose of this visit probably includes these topics.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas echoed the sentiment of regional stability, emphasizing the strength of NATO. She assured that intelligence from Estonian and Baltic security institutions indicates no change in the threat assessment for the region. "Russia knows very well about NATO's ability to act and knows that NATO is strong and is acting," Kallas stated, adding that Estonia was also informed about the CIA director's visit to Moscow, though intelligence details are typically not widely disclosed.

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Lithuania assesses that the military threat level has not changed. This does not mean that incidents, various hybrid attacks, drones, instrumentalized migration actions from Belarus against us will not be carried out or will not be carried out more intensively. It's just that there is currently no information based on objective facts confirming that.

Reports from U.S. media indicated that CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow with the aim of persuading Russia not to attack NATO members, based on U.S. intelligence assessments suggesting Moscow might test the alliance. Some reports also suggested discussions included Iran, and that Russia's leadership might attempt a "limited attack" on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in the coming years.

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This is not a calm period. The geopolitical situation is not calm, it is not stable, and we, as sovereign countries, must collectively prepare, get ready, and invest in our security and defense.