“We maintain momentum in protecting international security. Our troops are deployed to operations across three continents, we have contributions in all land operations of NATO and six out of the nine military missions of the EU. We were forced to suspend the Military Training Mission in Ukraine as a result of the Russian war but we kept pushing for international training to be conducted for the Ukrainian military, and therefore in 2023 we are active participants of the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine, as well as of initiatives of other countries, and we are also continuing intense training at national level,” says Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
On March 31 deployment ceremony was held in Šiauliai for the 13th Force Protection Unit (FPU-13) formed by the National Defence Volunteer Force, Land Force, Lithuanian Armed Forces, to the United Nations Operation MINUSMA in Mali. The 13th rotation of the unit will be integrated into a German Company and ensure force protection within the base compound.
Lithuania has been contributing to the mission since 2016, it is one of the twelve international operations that the Lithuanian Armed Forces is part of at the moment.
In total, approx. 90 Lithuanian troops are deployed to the United Nations Operation MINUSMA, EU Training Missions in Mali, CAR and Mozambique, EU Naval Forces ATALANTA and IRINI, NATO operations in Iraq and Kosovo, UK-led international Operation Interflex and EU and NATO missions for training Ukrainian military personnel.
“By contributing to multinational operations Lithuania fulfils its international commitments like a credible Ally should, while Lithuanian military are preparing for national defence as they interact with our Allies in the deployments,” says Minister A. Anušauskas.
