Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas is concluding his week-long trip to the US by a visit in Washington on August 14-16.
Practically the most important part of the visit took place on August 15. It began with a Full Honour Arrival Ceremony held for the Lithuanian Chief of Defence at Whiple Field Park. Host of the ceremony Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen Joseph F. Dunford presented to LT Gen J.V.Žukas the Commander Degree Medal of the Legion of Merit.
"The award is a sign of appreciation not only of me but to all the Lithuanian Armed Forces, it stands as a symbol of a strong bilateral partnership of Lithuania and the United States and multilateral partnership in NATO that based on shared values and goals," Lt Gen J. V. Žukas said after the ceremony.
Later Chief of Defence formally met with highest commanders of the US Armed Forces at the Pentagon: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen J. F. Dunford, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps Gen Robert B. Neller, and Chief of the National Guard Bureau Gen Joseph Lauren Lengyel. Generals discussed security situation in the Baltic Sea region, interoperability of allies, bilateral cooperation, including joint military exercises, and international fight against terrorism.
According to Lt Gen J. V. Žukas, it was agreed at the meetings to further strengthen defence cooperation between Lithuania and the US - both, between the armed forces and separate services.
On August 14 Chief of Defence met with Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau Lt Gen Daniel Hokanson.
On Tuesday Lt Gen J. V. Žukas visited the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in the US to share insights on the security situation in the Baltic Region, ongoing changes and modernisation in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and Lithuanian-US defence cooperation with the Lithuanian American community in Washington.
"I can only say how remarkable it is that we have an ally like the United States of America. It was one more opportunity for me to see that the US commitment to the security in Europe, including our region, are steadfast," Lt Gen J. V. Žukas summed up the visit. said about the visit.
Lt Gen J. V. Žukas began the formal visit in the US non August 9 and is expected to return to Lithuania on Friday.
Earlier during the visit Chief of Defence met with Adjutant-General of Pennsylvania Major General Anthony J. Carelli in Los Angeles and visited Consulate General of Lithuania. On August 11 he visited soldiers of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Battalion and assigned units training at Fort Irwin Training Area and the National Training Centre of the United States alongside US allies together with Commander of the Lithuanian Land Force Valdemaras Rupšys.
The US commitment to the security in the region and visibility in Lithuania and the region is one of the most essential guarantees of security and stability of Lithuania. Both on a bilateral bass and adhering to NATO efforts, the United States is implementing broad deterrence measures in the Baltic region. The United States was the first ally to deploy air defence reinforcement - additional fighter aircraft and capabilities for persistent presence in the Baltic states, when the security situation changed in the region and Europe in spring 2014. US soldiers are training in military exercises and other military cooperation events held in Lithuania. The US also leads a NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Poland to strengthen the eastern flank of the Alliance. Defence cooperation between Lithuania and the US particularly intensified with signing a cooperation agreement in January 2017. The document reiterates both countries' commitment to work together to strengthen the NATO alliance, to increase European security, and to fight global security threats.
Photo credits: Dominique A. Pineiro and Olivia G. Ortiz
The Full Honour Arrival Ceremony: https://www.facebook.com/TheJointStaff/videos/279971336113742
Spokesperson for the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Maj Mindaugas Neimontas, +370 5 278 5091, +370 682 25359, mindaugas.neimontas@mil.lt
