“We are grateful to Belgium for the continuous contributions to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion, NATO Force Integration Unit Lithuania and the Baltic Air Policing Mission. Lithuania needs a strong and united Alliance capable of responding to threats. This is our shared goal,” said A. Anušauskas stressing that Lithuania actively worked towards implementation of the decisions taken at the NATO Summit in Madrid and deployment of a brigade-sized allied unit in Lithuania.
Ministers also discussed the expanding cooperation on cybersecurity, the threat of Russia, assistance to Ukraine, and preparations for the NATO Summit in Vilnius in 2023. After the meeting with L. Dedonder, Minister A. Anušauskas attended the meeting with King Philippe of Belgium with the delegation of President of the Republic of Lithuania HE Gitanas Nausėda.
Belgian troops were among the first to join the German-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group when it was established in Lithuania in 2017. The size of the current Belgian contingent at Rukla is approx. 200 service members. Belgium was also the first NATO Ally to deploy air capabilities to Šiauliai when the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states began in 2004.
