Vice Minister also praised the intensifying bilateral military cooperation of the two countries and invited Germany’s backing regarding approval of the NATO defence plans for the Baltic region.
In his turn, Chief of Defence of Germany said that he took the security situation in the Baltic region seriously and security threats were continuously analysed, and stressed the appreciation of the excellently functioning transatlantic bond in the Baltic region.
Chief of Defence of Germany said when addressing military exercises that serious preparations were ongoing for the international Exercise Defender 2020 to be held in the Baltic region next year and stressed that the opportunity to work with the Lithuanian Armed Forces was appreciated.
Chief of Defence of Germany was also briefed on the newly approved mandate for the international operations in which Lithuanian soldiers will serve alongside German colleagues, as well as on Lithuania’s plan’s to slightly increase its contingent in Mali.
Germany contributes to the development of Lithuania’s military capabilities to a particularly significant extent. The country is also a long-standing and close partner of Lithuania in modernising the Lithuanian Armed Forces, weaponry and other military equipment – Lithuania is acquiring Vilkas Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Pz2000 self-propelled howitzers, etc., from Germany. The country also deploys forces to the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states, German officers are serving at the NATO Force Integration Unit in Vilnius, the country leads and contributes the largest contingent to the multinational NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group based in Rukla which is deployed in Lithuania for deterrence and defence.
