“The financial U.S. assistance to the Lithuanian Armed Forces has significantly increased. Over 200 million of U.S. dollars have been allocated for Lithuania via U.S. assistance funds, which allows us to fill in critical capability gaps. We are currently engaged in an intense support to Ukraine. Therefore the U.S. assistance is critical for backfilling the Lithuanian military capabilities. The United States has become one of our key partners in acquisitions,” stressed G. M. Tučkutė.
Brig Gen Brad Nicholson is in Lithuania to attend a U.S. security assistance management review event organized on February 27–March 1 by the Defence Materiel Agency under the MoD.
Lithuania currently has ongoing projects of Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), Switchblade kamikaze drone and antitank weaponry procurement. Contracts have been sign also to acquire HIMARS artillery system and Black Hawk helicopters.
Part of the capabilities are acquired with U.S. funds assistance which enables a quicker pace of capability development and living up to NATO commitments, supports concordance of mutual NATO and U.S. standard, and facilitates expertise transfer between partners. Acquisitions from the U.S. ensures a quick provision of supplements in an emergency and presence of trained personnel to operate the equipment.
The United States is Lithuania’s strategic Ally. The Americans actively contribute to the assurance measures in the Baltic states with troops and equipment, as well as financial assistance for strengthening Lithuania’s defensive capabilities and developing military infrastructure, thus strengthening regional security and stability. The 7th heel-to-toe U.S. rotation is currently deployed at Pabradė: an uninterrupted force presence of the United States is critical for Lithuania’s security.