On July 30 Lithuanian and Portuguese National Defence Ministers will meet bilaterally at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai to discuss Portugal’s contribution to NATO Assurance Measures in the Baltic region, the Baltic Air Policing Mission, and the decisions taken at the recent NATO Summit. Ministers will also address the EU Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects and prospects of further bilateral military cooperation.
Prior to meeting with Minister of National Defence R. Karoblis and Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas in Šiauliai, Portugal’s Minister of National Defence J. A. Lopes will meet with the rotational Portuguese military personnel in Dragoon Battalion in Klaipėda serving as part of NATO’s Assurance Measures that strengthen the security of NATO allies in Central and Eastern European countries. The guests will meet with Commander of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Butigeidis Dragoon Battalion Colonel Artūras Radvilas, view equipment and weaponry brought by Portuguese soldiers for exercises and training in Lithuania alongside Lithuanian and allied troops, communicate and have lunch with soldiers of their country.
Currently the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states is conducted and led by Portuguese Air Force soldiers. They deployed to Šiauliai Air Base in May with four F-16 fighter aircraft. This is the fourth time Portugal is providing capabilities for the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltics. Also, Portugal’s P-3C aircraft is currently deployed in Šiauliai Air Base as part of the NATO Assurance Measures. The P-3C carries out maritime patrolling tasks, identifies and monitors above-surface movement, provides additional information to fighter pilots, thus enhancing the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic region.
Portugal also contributes to the work of the NAO Force Integration Unit in Vilnius by delegating staff officers.
