October 30, the Baltic Military Committee met in Jašiūnai Estate in Southeast Lithuania. Chief of Defence of Lithuania General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Chief of Defence of Latvia Lieutenant General Leonids Kalninš and Chief of Defence of Estonia Major General Andrus Merilo conducted thee meeting in two sessions which focussed on key aspects of the Baltic region security.
The first session focused on the regional security situation updates and latest intelligence. Later, development of joint capabilities, for instance, MALE (medium altitude – long endurance) reconnaissance UAV, was discussed. Another point of discussion at the session was the activities of the Baltic Combined Joint Staff Element (B-CJSE).
The second session addressed the Baltic Defence College (Tartu, Estonia) and featured BALTDEFCOL Commandant Brigadier General Alvydas Šiuparis. Among the topics discussed were the use of the training area built in the Republic of Latvia for the benefit of the region, the concept of airspace denial, deployments of maritime capabilities in the Baltic Sea region, manning NATO Command Structure with senior officers and national capability development in line with the NATO capability requirements.
The Baltic Military Committee meets on a rotational basis once in a year. After a year of chairmanship of the Baltic Military Committee, Chief of Defence of Lithuania General Raimundas Vaikšnoras handed over the duties and token to Chief of Defence of Estonia Major General Andrus Merilo.
The format of the trilateral Baltic Defence Committee supports the security of the Baltic region, military cooperation and joint readiness to deliver on joint deterrence and defence at strategic level. The format is chaired by a different member every year.
