“Having sent the first fighter aircraft of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission 12 years ago, Belgium continues contributing to ensure our security through intense bilateral cooperation with Lithuanian land, naval and air forces,” Minister of National Defence J. Olekas said at a bilateral meeting with his Belgian counterpart aboard the LNS Jotvingis of the Lithuanian Navy.
In a discussion on preparations for the NATO Summit that will be held in Warsaw in July Minister J.Olekas underscored the significance of effective deterrence and actual military presence in our region.
“Enhanced Allied presence has to transform from a political instrument to a militarily effective tool of deterrence, and this can be achieved by deploying multinational battalion combat groups in the Baltic States and Poland,” the Minister stated.
J. Olekas thanked Belgium for deploying company-sized rotational land forces in last October 2015 and invited to return in autumn again.
The Lithuanian and the Belgian Minister of Defence observed mine countermeasures (MCM) tasks of multinational MCM Exercise Open Spirit 2016 and a demonstration of medevac(medical evacuation).
