Euro entry to boost Lithuania's security: Katainen

(VILNIUS) - Lithuania, increasingly jittery over Russia's foreign policy, can look forward to a security boost when it joins the eurozone next year, the EU's senior official on economic issues said Thursday.

Joining the European single currency "gives a better buffer towards geopolitical tensions," European Economic Affairs Commissioner Jyrki Katainen told AFP in Lithuania's capital Vilnius.

"There are always bigger risks to have your own little currency, than to be a part of a larger currency zone when there are geopolitical tensions," he added.

European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi echoed his remarks, telling reporters in Vilnius that euro entry "should make people feel safer".

Despite public worry that joining the euro will fuel price increases, Lithuania's government has pushed ahead with adoption of the currency as part of a strategy to anchor the country deeper in the West -- and out of the influence of former Soviet master Moscow.

Fellow Baltic neighbours Estonia and Latvia joined the European single currency bloc in 2011 and 2014 respectively. However, tensions have risen across the Baltics, which were all part of the Soviet Union, during Russia's takeover of the Crimea region in Ukraine and alleged support for insurgents in the east of the country.

Latvia on Thursday unveiled a newly upgraded NATO airbase near its Russian border.

General Raimonds Graube, commander of Latvia's armed forces, cited "events in Ukraine" as a key motivation in the revamping of the base.

"The airfield will allow Latvia's allies to land aircraft not only in Riga, but also Lielvarde, as the airfield is suitable for very large planes," he said.