On April 2 Chief of the Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Maj Gen Vitalijus Vaikšnoras met with Commander of the United States Second Fleet and NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk Vice Admiral Andrew L. Lewis.
Maj Gen V. Vaikšnoras and the guest discussed the oncoming Exercise BALTOPS 19 which is one of the largest naval exercises in the Baltic Sea region and will take place in June, topical issues of regional defence and U.S.-Lithuanian military cooperation.
Chief of the Defence Staff thanked Vice Adm. Andrew L. Lewis for the unwavering attention from the U.S. Navy to the Baltic region, for upholding the traditions of organising defensive exercises and for the support and resolve to strengthen Lithuania's security.
The United States is Lithuania's strategic partner and key ally for our security. Since the security situation in the Baltic region and Europe changed in spring 2014, defence cooperation between the United States and Lithuania has intensified significantly and the scope of U.S. military presence and activities has increased.
The U.S. was the first ally to deploy air defence reinforcement - additional fighter aircraft and forces for persistent presence in the Baltic states. U.S. military personnel take part in military exercises and other military cooperation events held in Lithuania under the NATO Readiness Action Plan (RAP) drawn up at the NATO Summit in Wales on 5 September 2014, deploy rotational forces to the Republic of Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, implement the European Reassurance Initiative and other security assurance measures. The United States also leads the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Poland as part of the efforts to strengthen the eastern border of the Alliance.
Defence cooperation between Lithuania and the United States particularly intensified after the signature of a cooperation agreement in January 2017. The document reiterated both countries commitment to work together to strengthen the NATO alliance, to increase European security, and to fight global security threats.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Pennsylvania National Guard have been cooperating actively since 1993. The PNG are arranging courses and seminars for representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, come to train in the Baltic states, and Lithuanian troops go to take part in exercise, "Train-the-trainer" instructor courses and other events in Pennsylvania. The PNG and units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces have developed close ties of military cooperation.
Soldiers of Lithuania and the Pennsylvania National Guard were deployed together in the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Ghor, Afghanistan, in 2010-2012 to train local police officers. PNG soldiers also served in the Lithuanian-led Logistical Support Unit and helped ensuring logistics to the forces eployed to Afghanistan.
PAO for the Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Maj Tomas Balkus
+370 5 219 6401, +370 686 28035, tomas.balkus@mil.lt
