On September 11 Chief of Defence General Raimundas Vaikšnoras welcomed Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Alexus G. Grynkewich. Their meeting centered on the most relevant issues of regional security: strengthening air defence, development of the Baltic Defence Line, U.S. force deployment in Europe and Lithuania. SACEUR is the most senior officer in the Alliance in charge of military NATO operations, and force planning and readiness.
“In the event of aggression against a NATO member state, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe is authorized to avail of all the military means in his disposition to protect or restore territorial integrity of the Alliance,” underscored General Raimundas Vaikšnoras.
General Raimundas Vaikšnoras also met with Commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard (PANG), Adjutant General of Pennsylvania Major General John R. Pippy. The PANG is one of the largest and oldest elements of the U.S. defence, it is bound with Lithuania by a partnership of 30 years.
Cooperation with the PANG spans a wide spectrum of areas: from army, air and home guard exercises, as well as cyber security projects, to a mission conducted side by side in Afghanistan – PANG military personnel was deployed with the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team of Ghor in 2009–2012. The partnership was taken to another level in 2019 with a signature between the Lithuanian Land Force and the PANG 28th Infantry Division on developing a division-level C2 capability.
The current partnership concerns particularly relevant areas: the PANG shares its experience with the UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters procured by Lithuania training Lithuanian pilots and engineers at its air competence facility. Also, a Counter-Drone Center of Excellence is developed, as well as long-range artillery capability, the initiatives that will give Lithuania more opportunities to accelerate formation of the National Division and strengthen combat capabilities.
Chief of Defence General Raimundas Vaikšnoras also plans meeting with counterparts of Germany and Hungary later this Friday to further develop the dialogue on strengthening regional defence and integration of the collective NATO capabilities. Hungary partners with other Allies to ensure security of the Baltic skies via the current NATO Air Policing Mission.
Photo and info credits: Lithuanian Armed Forces.
