„Lithuania continues to provide outstanding host-nation support as well as top-tier training areas and ranges to increase the readiness and soldier lethality of both nations. We intend to continue these deployments to Lithuania, where both of our forces can mutually benefit from shared operations,” R. D. McCarthy said.
U.S. Secretary of the Army also underscored that the U.S. remained ironclad in its commitment to NATO allies, and would continue to strengthen deterrence and defence in the region, train together, and create opportunities to work together to ensure a stable and secure Europe.
Common plans in terms of upcoming rotations of the U. S. troops and missions with Lithuanian troops were also discussed at the meeting.
Secretary of the Army of the United States R. D. McCarthy also met with President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda.
Working on the deterring effect of the allied military presence on the ground, Lithuania invests into infrastructure development at Pabradė and other sites, and builds on the Host Nation Support. U.S. military personnel are not only using infrastructure in the Lithuanian military training areas side by side with military personnel of other allied countries and Lithuania but are also contributing to infrastructure upgrading projects. The United States invested approx. USD 8 million in 2017–2019 to the Pabradė Training Area alone.
Also, joint Lithuanian-U.S. procurement projects are implemented to strengthen capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces: last autumn a contract was signed with the Government of the United States on provision of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicles for the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Lithuania is also in negotiations on acquisition of Black Hawk helicopters.
