Visiting the United States on October 12 through 17, Chief of Defence General Raimundas Vaikšnoras will have a meeting with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Daniel Caine. They will discuss Lithuania’s commitments to the Allies, the importance of U.S. military presence on the ground in Lithuania, development of the Baltic Defence Line and lessons learned transferred from Ukraine for strengthening Lithuania’s defence planning and capability development.
“The United States thinks highly of Lithuania’s commitment to hit the defence spending goals. We have plenty of demands to match the shifting battlefield: UAVs, additions of the short-range integrated air defence system, fully functioning division, means of electronic warfare and development of the Baltic Defence Line. This requires financial resources. Article 3 states clearly: every Ally, collectively or individually, is obliged to strengthen their defensive potential to the maximum. The Americans expect it from us too.
In our turn, we strongly confirm: Lithuania needs to be prepared to invest in our own and collective Alliance security even more. To be one of the leaders that not just speak of defence but also improve it with concrete steps,” General Raimundas Vaikšnoras underscored.
In the course of the visit General Raimundas Vaikšnoras has been inducted in the International Fellows Hall of Fame of the U.S. Army War College. The honor befalls graduates of the U.S. Army War College who hold the most senior military office in their countries and have significant merits in strengthening international security. The current Chief of Defence obtained his Master’s degree in Strategic Studies at the U.S. Army War College in 2013. His induction underlines the increasing recognition of professionalism of Lithuanian officers and the strengthening transatlantic military cooperation.
The current visit to the United States marks yet another step toward a stronger partnership and Lithuania’s role in the formation of a stronger and closer integrated eastern flank of NATO.
Photo credit: Lithuanian Armed Forces
