On November 9–10, Chief of the Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Rear Admiral Giedrius Premeneckas paid a working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium. During the visit, he met with European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and Chief of Staff of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) General Markus Laubenthal.
The meeting with European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius was primarily dedicated to the development of the Lithuanian Armed Forces' air defence capabilities and EU initiatives aimed at strengthening Member States' defence capacities. Rear Admiral G. Premeneckas briefed Commissioner A. Kubilius on the Lithuanian Armed Forces' air defence development priorities, outlined current needs, and expressed interest in utilising European Union instruments to accelerate the acquisition and development of required capabilities.
Another key point of discussion was the effectiveness of responses to incidents involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), inter-agency coordination among public institutions, and the importance of practical solutions to improve threat tracking and response. Both officials highlighted the necessity of close cooperation between national statutory institutions and Allies to strengthen resilience against emerging security threats.
During his meeting with SHAPE Chief of Staff General Markus Laubenthal, Rear Admiral G. Premeneckas discussed the NATO Exercise Programme 2027, its core priorities, and ways to enhance Allied readiness. They emphasized the vital role of exercises in ensuring the executability of NATO defence plans, improving the interoperability of Allied forces, and refining joint operational planning and execution procedures.
Strengthening air defence in the Baltic region, integrating Allied capabilities, and coordinating joint actions to ensure an effective air defence posture were addressed as separate agenda items. The Generals also reviewed the implementation of NATO deterrence and defence measures, the regional security situation, and further steps to bolster NATO's readiness to respond to potential threats.
