Defence Ministers and Chiefs from the nine partner nations of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force will meet on 28 June in Klaipėda, Lithaunia, to mark the one-year anniversary of the force reaching full operating capacity.
They will gather aboard HMS Albion, which is currently leading the JEF Maritime Task Group deployed on Baltic Protector - a large scale maritime deployment featuring a total of 3,000 military personnel and 20 vessels from all JEF nations: the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Finland and Sweden.
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UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force
The UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force was established at the NATO Summit in 2014 and became operational after one year. The force reached Full Operational Capability in June 2018 with the signature of the Comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding in London. 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.
Lithuania is contributing a company sized unit to the JEF which is assigned to the Combat Group of the Danish Armed Forces and a military medic assigned to the UK field hospital. One Lithuanian officer has been serving in the JEF operational headquarters in Northwood, United Kingdom, since early 2016.
The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania gave a mandate for the Lithuanian Armed Forces to take part in military operations as part of the NATO Response Force, European Union Battle Groups and the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, therefore, once there is a political decision, there is also the legal basis to deploy our soldiers at short notice and ensure crisis management.
Baltic Protector
Exercise Baltic Protector is running from 24 May to 8 July and involves approx. 3 thousand seamen and marines and 20 warships from all the nine UK-led JEF nations. Troops will conduct maritime tactical exercises, shore landings, logistical operations, and other amphibious drills in order to enhance interoperability, as well as cooperate with other NATO allies during the deployment.
The first deployment of the JEF Maritime Task Group of such scope showcases the ability to ensure security in the region.
Key exercise dates in Lithuania:
June 28/29 - nighttime coastal landing by the Royal Marines and joint exercise with soldiers of the National Defence Volunteer Force in Nemirseta.
June 28 -July 3 headquarters company of the 3 Commando Brigade of the United Kingdom and platoons from units of the Motorised Infantry Brigade Griffin and the National Defence Volunteer Force Žemaičiai Military District will train tactical operations at Kairiai Training Area.
Point of contact for the exercise: Lithuanian Armed Forces Strategic Communication Department Officer Capt Andrius Dilda: +370 618 32 490, andrius.dilda@mil.lt
Photos:
1. Signature of the Comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding on the JEF establishment in June 2018 in London (MoD archive)
2. Baltic Protector is led from aboard Royal Navy ship HMS Albion.
Source: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2019/may/20/190520-uk-led-task-force-sails
