The ceremony in Vilnius marked the activation of NFIUs not only in our country, but also in Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. According to the President, the fact that an official announcement that such units have been activated in six countries across the region has been made in Lithuania demonstrates that the Alliance values Lithuania's leadership and work accomplished to strengthen regional security.
"The NATO Force Integration Units activated today in Lithuania and five other member nations in the region sends a strong signal that we are ready to respond and to counter any kind of threats. NATO remains united and effective," the President said.
The new headquarters will reinforce national security. It will closely observe the security situation around Lithuania, ensuring a rapid deployment of NATO's Very High Readiness Task Force, if needed. The rapid response force will be able to move in to Lithuania within 48 hours.
The NATO Force Integration Unit Lithuania will also have a role in allied exercising. This coming October, a large-scale exercise will be held in the Baltic States where the Very High Readiness Task Force will be engaged – for the first time in Lithuania. Lithuanian and allied servicemen will be trained to respond to hybrid war threats. It will be the first ever such exercise conducted by the Alliance.
The President pointed out that the NATO Force Integration Units were set up within only one year after the Wales Summit. It means that the Alliance understands the threats that our region faces and takes timely steps to counter them.
In line with the Wales agreements, rotational allied forces have already arrived in Lithuania, there are plans to preposition heavy weaponry, and NATO's Very High Readiness Task Force is being activated.