Minister underscored that it was a priority for the Government to strengthen the defence and increase financing and capabilities, and that Lithuania unequivocally supported a firm transatlantic bond and NATO presence in Lithuania.
“Allied presence in the region is vital, therefore we greatly appreciate Denmark’s contribution to regional security. We take pride in the Danish leadership in the NATO Force Integration Unit in Vilnius,” said Minister welcoming the strong military cooperation between the two countries.
The NATO Force Integration Unit based in Vilnius is led by a Danish officer, Colonel Jacob Sogard Larsen. In the summer later this year he will relinquish to another Denmark’s representative, Colonel Peter Nielsen.
In 2020 the Kingdom of Denmark deployed approx. 200 troops to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group Estonia and plans to repeat in 2022.
Denmark is also an active participant of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states, its next Air Force Detachment will deploy to Šiauliai in September.
Denmark currently leads the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI). Lithuania is on an active preparation to join the Danish contingent in Iraq for 6 months as of the end of 2021.
Denmark has been rendering consistent political support and practical assistance to Lithuania since the beginning of the formation of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The two countries probably have the closest relations in military area: the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf has been in a particularly close cooperation with the Danish Division for many years.
A company of the Lithuanian Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion is on standby for the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) which reached Full Operational Capability in 2018 in composition of the Danish Battlegroup. Lithuania will take part in the NATO Readiness Initiative (NRI) in the JEF framework in the Danish Contingent as of 2022.
The Lithuanian-Danish diplomatic relations mark the 100th anniversary this year.