On March 26 an infantry unit of the Portuguese Marine Corps arrived in Lithuania. This is the 9th Portugal’s force rotation in Lithuania deployed in the framework of the NATO Assurance Measures, however, the first to be coordinated by the Lithuanian Navy instead of the Lithuanian Great Hetman Jonas Karolis Chodkevičius Infantry Brigade Griffin.
The rotation strengthens Allied collaboration, improves force readiness and conduct joint military training with Lithuanian Armed Forces units. The deployed allied units will run joint training with Lithuanian and Allied colleagues in support of the agreed NATO measures of deterrence.
The Lithuanian Navy planning, interaction and Host Nation Support arrangement for the 9th Portuguese fusilier rotation. All activity is carried in line with the valid international agreements and host Nation Support principles, thus ensuring smooth integration with Allied forces and joint action.
Portugal has been a part of NATO’s Assurance Measures since 2015 consistently contributing to regional security in the Baltic states. Initiated after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Assurance measures entail deployment and readiness cycle of Allied forces in NATO’s eastern flank. Besides the rotational capability, the Portuguese Armed Forces are also contributing to the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states on a regular basis thus demonstrating steadfast commitment to collective defence.
Info credit: Lithuanian Navy
