“We appreciate the opportunity of being a strategic partner to France, a country that significantly and continuously contributes to the enhancement of security in our region and beyond,” Vice minister of National Defence V. Umbrasas said at the ceremony. He underscored that the world today was facing numerous challenges. “There may be a wrong impression that the world does nothing to eradicate these problems. But it is not so. Our troops are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Africa, we are continuously contributing to European Union and United Nations-led missions. And we will continue that because the reasons destabilising Europe have a direct impact on our security and defence too,” V. Umbrasas said at the ceremony.
“We particularly appreciate France’s decision to contribute to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence, our top priority. We are looking forward to hosting a French company that will join the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Rukla in 2018. I am certain that our forces will act together with success,” the Vice Minister said.
Before the present appointment, Col S. Loechleiter was the head of the Social and Political Sciences Department at the Saint-Cyr Military Academy. In the past he also served as French defence attaché in Macedonia, the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, and Bulgaria. He is a graduate of the Saint-Cyr Military Academy, War Collee in Paris, etc., holder of high French state and military decorations.
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Defence cooperation of Lithuania and France
The two countries develop cooperation through various formats: NATO, European Union, bilaterally, etc. France is one of the most active contributors to the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states: it has deployed five rotations and one augmentation (conducted from Malbork Air Base in Poland). France also contributes a company-sized unit to the NATO eFP and the Baltic security. Currently approx. 300 French soldiers with equipment are deployed to the UK-led NATO battalion in Estonia.
Lithuania made the decision to take part in the UN stabilisation operation in Mali MINUSMA in response to the call of France to contribute to bilateral and collective efforts to combat terrorism in the wake of the terrorist attack in Paris in November. It is not the first time Lithuania sends troops to Africa in response to France’s request. In 2014 Lithuanian soldiers with C-27J Spartan transport helicopter were providing logistical support to French national operation Sangaris in the Central African Republic. That is the main cooperation with France in multinational operations so far.
Lithuanian and French soldiers train in joint exercises. France contributes to mine countermeasures Exercise open Spirit in Lithuania on a regular basis.
The countries also cooperate in military training. Lithuanian soldiers are invited to enhance qualification in courses and apprenticeships in France. Academic student exchange is conducted between the Saint-Cyr Military Academy and the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania (French cadets study English while Lithuanians study for one semester at the Saint-Cyr Military Academy). Since 2012, a French language course is delivered at the Gen Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania by a French teacher according to an agreement with the Embassy of France.
France also contributes to the activity of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Vilnius as one of the framework nations, a French officer has been the second in command at the centre since 2013.
