On May 2 Defence Attaché of the Kingdom of Denmark in the Baltic States Colonel Søren Frausig paid a work visit to the Headquarters of the Lithuanian Land Force. The Defence Attaché met with Commander of the Land Force Major General Almantas Leika and Chief of Staff of the Land Force Colonel Vaidotas Malinionis.
The main aim of the visit was to discuss the perspectives of recommencing the cooperation between the Lithuanian Land Force's and the Danish Army's Training Centres, as well as a possible closer liaison between the National Defence Volunteer Force and the Danish Home Guard. In the past volunteer forces of both countries used to conduct experience exchange activities and various courses. Lithuanian military used to participate in Denmark-hosted military exercises, several exercises of the multinational "Open Spirit" series have been organised in Lithuania.
During the visit the Lithuanian Land Force, its structure, functions and major multinational exercises scheduled for 2013 were presented to the Defence Attaché as well as international cooperation developed by the Lithuanian Land Force with foreign partners, the other two Baltic States, Poland and the U.S.A. The briefing involved an active dispute on the possible perspectives of further bilateral cooperation.
Denmark's Defence Attaché Col S. Frausig underlined that he welcomed the initiative of the Lithuanian Land Force's Command to develop a closer cooperation between military training institutions of the two countries. At the meeting with the Lithuanian represenatives the possibility to hold bilateral meetings of leaders and instructors of Lithuanian and Danish military training institutions for discussing the perspectives of cooperation was considered. Col S. Frausig also pointed out the weighty contribution the Lithuanian Land Force had been making in Afghanistan. According to the officer, the Lithuanian Land Force is an experienced and advanced service, therefore learning from Lithuania would be worthwhile for Danish military.
Defence cooperation between Lithuania and Denmark commenced in 1994 with the mutual participation of both countries' troops in multinational operations in the Balkan region (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo) and Iraq.
Denmark is one of the most active and generous contributors to the reform of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and to the re-equipping of the service with weaponry and equipment corresponding to NATO standards.
In 2005 the LITBRIG project, one of the key bilateral cooperation projects between Lithuania and Denmark was launched. The Mechanised Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" of the Lithuanian Land Force was affiliated to the Danish Division, the Brigade's personnel started training in division-level exercises, training events and joint staff work. The main goal of the LITBRIG project is to complete a comprehensive training of the staff and the personnel of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade "Iron Wolf" for completing the full spectrum of NATO operations in line with NATO requirements.
POC: PAO for the Command of the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Force 1st Lt Tomas Pakalniškis, cell phone no. 00370 657 61271
Photos by 1st Lt Tomas Pakalniškis
