“Lithuania is always contributing actively to NATO, European Union, United Nations missions and operations within its capacity. It is an important expression of Lithuania’s commitments to international security, and also a way to strengthen the European Common Security and Defence Policy, NATO collective defence and military cooperation,” Chief of the Joint Staff Major General Vitalijus Vaikšnoras said and thanked families of the soldiers for their support.
The leaving soldiers will replace Lithuanian troops whose tour of duty ended at the Resolute Support Mission HQ in Kabul and the Train, Advise, Assist Command –West (TAAC-W). The Lithuanian contingent in Afghanistan currently numbers 21 soldiers. The new shift is planned to depart for Afghanistan by the Lithuanian Air Force Spartan aircraft within a short while.
At the meeting in Brussels on June 29 NATO Defence Ministers agreed to strengthen NATO forces in Afghanistan and increase troops numbers. The decisions was made as a response to the complex (deteriorating) security situation and the challenges national security forces had to face in countering terrorism threats. Lithuania increases its contribution by 7 additional soldiers who will be deployed this fall.
The second team of military instructors will be farewelled at the deployment ceremony before leaving for the U.S.-led operation Inherent Resolve. It will replace six officers of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas Headquarters Battalion who were deployed to the mission in February.
Lithuanian soldiers are training Iraqi security forces together with allies. The new group of six will serve with the Kingdom of Denmark contingent and train Iraqi security forces to fight the Islamic State alongside troops from Denmark, Estonia, and Latvia. The soldiers will leave for the area of operation in Iraq together with members of the Danish contingent in the end of the month. Just like in all other ongoing missions, Lithuanians do not take part combat actions in the U.S.-led Inherent Resolve.
Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan
Multinational operation Resolute Support was launched in Afghanistan on 1 January 2015 as a continuation of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The Resolute Support Mission is designed to train, advise and assist national security forces, ministries, and other authorities of Afghanistan.
Lithuanian soldiers in Afghanistan serve at:
• Resolute Support operational headquarters (Kabul)
Operational headquarters of the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission is located in Kabul. Lithuanian soldiers are completing assignments according to their area of competence under different divisions of the headquarters. The Lithuanian military police team is also posted to this HQ: it carries out international military police tasks together with Australian and U.S. colleagues – ensure military order, prevent criminal activities, other law infringements. Two more Lithuanians are ensuring the functions of the National Support Element, provide logistical support to Lithuanian soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
• Train, Advise, Assist Command –West (Herat)
Five Lithuanian soldiers deployed from five different units of the Lithuanian Forces serve in the Train, Advice Assist Command-West which is based in north-western Afghanistan next to Herat. The soldiers are completing assignments according to their area of competence under different divisions of the headquarters.
Multinational operation in Iraq Inherent Resolve
Lithuanian soldiers are deployed to Operation Inherent Resolve according to the resolution of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania of 29 June 2016 to send up to 30 civilian and military personnel to the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve. Neither in this, nor in any other ongoing mission Lithuanian soldiers do not take part in combat actions.
In total, roughly 50 Lithuanian troops are currently deployed to seven multinational operations:
Approx. 20 Lithuanian soldiers are taking part in European Union-led operations: Training Mission in Mali, Training Mission in the Central African Republic and European Union Naval Force Operation SOPHIA, Operation ATALANTA.
One Lithuanian soldier serves with the NATO peace-support operation in Kosovo.
Five Lithuanian officers are currently deployed to the Unite Nations Operation MINUSMA in Mali.
