Chief of Defence of Norway General Eirik Kristoffersen has met with Chief of Defence of Lithuania General Raimundas Vaikšnoras on his first official visit to Lithuania. He will proceed the trip meeting with the Norwegian contingent of the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania and other representatives of the multinational unit. He is also scheduled to see Commander of the German 45th Armoured Brigade Litauen to further build Allied integration and interoperability in Lithuania. Other points on the visit agenda include a tour of the strategic military infrastructure development project in Rūdninkai.
“Norway is an important Ally not just because of force deployments to Lithuania but also a wider contribution to the security in the eastern and northern flanks of NATO – from air defence and air policing to active support of Ukraine and enhancement of security of the Northern region,” said General Raimundas Vaikšnoras.
Norway is a strategic Lithuania’s partner in strengthening air defence – tight collaboration on the NASAMS project improved Lithuania’s capacity of airspace security and critical infrastructure protection. Lithuania has also acquired NASAMS medium range air defence batteries from Norway: the first one has been integrated in the Lithuanian Armed Forces since 2020, the other will join the ranks this year, and the last one – in 2028.
Currently, the Norwegian contingent in the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania is approx. 140-strong in military and support personnel.
Photo credit: Sgt Spc Karolis Kavolėlis.
