On November 8 Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj Gen Valdemaras Rupšys is attending a Chiefs of Defence Conference of the countries contributing to the United Kingdom-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in London.
Chiefs of Defence of the 9 JEF-contributing countries will discuss in depth the JEF exercises completed in 2019, lessons learnt in the exercises, possibilities of JEF deployment, and further combat training plan.
In summer earlier this year the first maritime training deployment Operation Baltic Protector of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) took place in the Baltic Sea. It also involved Lithuanian military personnel and one of the final stages in June was conducted on the Lithuanian coast.
The training event involved 3 thousand soldiers and 17 warships from all the 9 countries taking part in the JEF - The United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. The command and control of the exercise e was provided from aboard the HMS Albion ship of the Royal Navy.
Also, Chiefs of Defence and Ministers of Defence of the countries taking part in the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force gathered in Klaipėda in June last year to mark the first anniversary of the JEF.
Established at the NATO Summit in 2014, the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force reached Full Operational Capability last year with the signature of the Comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding in London and announcement of the reached capability. Today the high-readiness rapid response force comprising 10 thousand troops can be activated to respond to emergencies in Europe and beyond any time necessary. The JEF can be deployed independently or in support of international frameworks, including NATO, UN, EU, and the Northern Group.
Concept of the JEF differs from international organizations, however, the force stands ready to deploy to humanitarian assistance, deterrence, or any type of a combat operation according to NATO standards and procedures. In case of necessity, the JEF can be deployed in support EU, UN or NATO operations.
One Lithuanian officer has been serving at the JEF operational HQ in Northwood, UK, since early 2016. A company-sized Lithuanian unit assigned to the JEF is attached to the Danish Army Battle Group, and one military medic is assigned to the UK field hospital.
The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania has mandated deployment of Lithuanian military capabilities to operations in composition of the NATO Response Force, EU Battle Groups, and the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, therefore as soon as there is a political decision, there is a legal basis at the ready to send our soldiers to ensure crisis management.
Spokesperson for the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj Tomas Balkus
+370 5 278 5091, +370 682 25359, tomas.balkus@mil.lt
Photo credit: Alfredas Pliadis
