“It’s a privilege to be able to mark the 20th anniversary of membership in the world’s largest and most powerful defensive Alliance which is growing in meaning day by day. NATO membership is our security guarantee. Today Lithuania and over 30 of its Allies act in concert and contribute to the implementation of the Euro-Atlantic security goals and our common security,” said Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
On March 2, this Saturday, exhibition “Strong Together” is opened at Vytautas the Great War Museum in Kaunas, the first event in the commemorative series this year.
Viewers of the exhibition will learn about Lithuania’s path to NATO, the increasing capability of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, participation in international missions and operations and every possible support Lithuania renders Ukraine.
Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas and Minister of the Interior Agnė Bilotaitė at the opening event will engage in a discussion on Security, Defence and the New Geopolitical Reality: How Ready Are We?
The exposition in Kaunas is the first of the many events to be held to mark the NATO membership anniversary. The events and initiatives organized by the Ministry of National Defence and other institutions will be different in types to catch the attention of as wide the public as possible.
The commemoration will culminate on March 29 in a solemn commemoration of the 20th NATO membership anniversary in Daukantas Square and an artistic installation #WeAreNATO in the Cathedral Square in Vilnius.
Besides the mentioned events the public is invited to take part in the Runway Run in the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai on the main runway. Also, to visit an interactive “November. Alpha. Tango. Oscar” exhibition in Vilnius, visit a historical-cultural programme “Sūduvis (M52): Mission: Baltic Security” in the Lithuanian Sea Museum. Aside from all these events, Vilnius will be hosting the international Baltic Military Conference “From Vilnius to Washington” to mark the 75th anniversary of NATO and the 20th anniversary of Lithuania’s NATO membership.
We have taken firm steps towards a new perspective in 2004 bearing the responsibility to agree and implement decisions on our own and with Allies building national and collective security. NATO membership has turned around decades of Lithuania’s fate determined by historical and geological circumstances and has become our security and success story.
“Together Strong” opens on March 2 in Kaunas, Vytautas the Great War Museum, at 2.00 p.m. (K. Donelaičio g. 64, Kaunas).
