“NATO CMX is an opportunity to test in practice and perfect our response mechanisms across different emergencies – at both civilian and military level. This is an important instrument for Lithuania that keeps our readiness on fleek and helps ensure effective cooperation with the Allies so that we stay quick and coordinated in our response to emerging threats, as well as to test-run our national response systems, plans and decision-making,” pointed out Vice Minister of National Defence Tomas Godliauskas.
Held since 1992, CMX includes civilian and military representatives of the NATO HQ, Commands and member states, in CMX’25 they will interact with the Council of the EU, European Commission and the European External Action Service.
The decision-making training exercise will be based on an undisclosed scenario and will not include forces training in military areas.
“When we look at the big picture of NATO, with will always have to begin with ourselves. As a strong link in the Alliance, we contribute to the action on collective deterrence and readiness to act. Therefore, this exercise is an opportunity to assess and strengthen the inter-institutional crisis prevention and management coordination and institutional readiness for emergencies,” says Government Chancellor Laimonas Rudys.
“Collective defence is the underlying principle of NATO. It is necessary to ensure a smooth and efficient collaboration of the 32 Allies, effective national and collective NATO response procedures and decision-making more than ever. NATO CMX offers a chance to test our readiness and to continue improving Allied cooperation skills in the times of crises together,” Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Julius Pranevičius says.
In Lithuania the exercise is coordinated by the National Crisis Management Centre and includes participants from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence, the Interior, Transport and Communications, Health, Energy, State Security Department, Defence Intelligence and Security Service under the MoD, Police Department, Mobilization and Civil Resistance Department, Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, State Border Guard Service and Health Emergency Situations Centre under the Ministry of Health.
