General C. M. Scaparrotti visited the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf in Rukla to which the NATO eFP Battle Group Lithuania is assigned, met with Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas, Commander of the MIB Iron Wolf Colonel Mindaugas Steponavičius, soldiers and leadership of the NATO eFP Battle Group. The guest also observed a joint training event of the allied troops and troops with Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion and talked to its participants.
Lithuania’s Chief of Defence discussed the security situation with Gen C. M. Scaparrotti, briefed him on the topicalities and development plans of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and thanked for the support to strengthening regional and national security. Lt GEn J. V. Žukas underscored that effective deterrence required the ability to reinforce the NATO eFP Battle Group quickly, and also the importance of the Alliance’s air and maritime support to the security of our country.
Gen C. M. Scaparrotti also met with Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas and Chief of the Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Major General Vitalijus Vaikšnoras over a formal dinner in Kaunas.
SACEUR arrived in Lithuania from Poland were he visited solders of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Poland deployed last year.
Supreme Allied Commander Europe is one of the two NATO’s strategic commanders and leads the Allied Command Operations (ACO) responsible for NATO’s military operations. Gen C. M. Scaparrotti was appointed to the position in 2016. He is also the Command General of the US Army Europe.
The high-readiness multinational combat capabilities deployed in the three Baltic states and Poland are a significant allies’ contribution to the regional security. The NATO eFP Battle Group deployed in Lithuania since February 2017 is led by Germany. The over 1,400-strong multinational force is currently formed by soldiers from Belgium, Croatia, Norway, the Netherlands, France and Germany, and Iceland posted a civilian officer to serve in the units.
