"We are deeply grateful to Italy for its deployment to the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states, for the officer assigned to the NATO headquarters operating in Lithuania, and for the support rendered to the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Lithuania," J.Olekas thanked Italy for the contributions to the security measures in our region at the meeting.
While addressing the upcoming NATO Summit in Warsaw, Minister J.Olekas underscored the importance of finding solutions to the issues of southern NATO allies, such as the fight against ISIL terrorists or migration issue, along with the continued implementation of the assurance measures in the Baltic Sea region.
At the meeting with Chief of Defence of Italy C. Graziano General Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General J. V. Žukas invited his counterpart to consider deploying an Italian ground unit to Lithuania for several months as soon as next year, and thus take part in international NATO exercises held in Lithuania. Lithuanian Chief of Defence assured the guest of his commitment to provide the best conditions possible for Italian troops to train in Lithuania.
During the meetings Chief of Defence of Italy was briefed on the security situation in our region, information threats, capabilities and readiness of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, contributions to multinational operations and exercises, and perspectives of defence capability development.
Particular attention was paid to bilateral military cooperation and implementation of the NATO Readiness Action Plan: NATO exercises taking place in Lithuania, rotational ground forces of NATO allies deployed in Lithuania, activities of the NATO Force Integration Unit in Vilnius and contributions to the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force.
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Even though a considerable spatial distance separates Lithuania from Italy in geographical terms, armed forces of both countries differ greatly in sizes and equipment operated, and the countries face different security challenges, armed forces of both nations have already been developing cooperation of various types for over 15 years.
The greatest achievement of cooperation between Lithuania and Italy so far was the procurement of three C-27J Spartan aircraft from Italy's Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A for the Lithuanian Air Force in 2006-2009. The Italian Armed Forces is still contributing to improvement of qualification of the personnel ensuring maintenance of the aircraft and deepening their knowledge, and is helping the Lithuanian armed OFRces with training fighter operators.
An Italian Air Force Detachment with four Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets has been guarding the Baltic airspace for even 8 consecutive months this year (two consecutive rotations). Italy also contributes actively to the activities of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Vilnius. The country posted an officer to serve with the Energy Security Centre of Excellence and one more - to the NATO Force Integration Unit in Vilnius.
Lithuania assigned one officer to the operational headquarters in of EUNAVFOR MED, the new European Union-led operation in the Mediterranean, in Rome (Italy) as of this May 28. The main goal of the operation is to prevent human smuggling and trafficking in the Mediterranean and to limit down illegal immigration to Europe.
Italian Special Operations Forces Command deployed an element to take part in the Command Post Exercise Steadfast Jazz 2013 in Lithuania, and in 1999-2001 bilateral Italian-Lithuanian exercises were held with roughly 600-800 alpine riflemen taking part on Italy's behalf.