Three high-ranking officers from the United States and Germany visit Lithuania next week. The distinguished guests will meet with Chief of Defence Lt Gen Valdemaras Rupšys, Chief of the Defence Staff Brig Gen Mindaugas Steponavičius, and service and unit commanders, familiarize with the security situation in the region, and visit troops of the forward U.S. and NATO battalions in Lithuania.
The very important visit By Gen Christopher G. Cavoli, Commandeer of our strategic ally U.S. Army Europe and Africa, is planned for September 22 – 23.
The U.S. General arrives to reassure the Lithuanian people and to demonstrate the firm United States commitment to defend the Lithuanian ally against any aggression. The rotational units deployed to the Lithuanian Armed Forces Gen S. Žukauskas Training Area in Pabradė are in the visiting General‘s subordination: in the event of a crisis, Gen Christopher G. Cavoli would be in command of the U.S. forces deploying in support of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Chief of Defence and the guest will discuss bilateral defence cooperation between Lithuania and the United States, participation international operations, joint investment, infrastructure development, integration of advanced Western equipment and gear in the Lithuanian Armed Forces projects.
Commander Bundeswehr Joint Forces Operations Command (BwJFOCOM), Lt Gen Erich Pfeffer will be in Lithuania on September 22 – 24. His bilateral meetings will focus on topical aspects of the Lithuania-German defence cooperation, the German investments in Lithuanian Armed Forces infrastructure, response to the hybrid activities from the East, deployment of Lithuanian military personnel to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission MINUSMA in composition of the German contingent in Mali. The guest will also tour the Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Rukla, and the NATO Force Integration Unit.
Today Lithuania and Germany are close partners in ensuring peace and security in the region and across Europe. The role of Germany is particularly important to Lithuania: it is the framework nation of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group deployed in Rukla for five years already.
German General visits Lithuania ahead of an important symbolical date: October the 3rd, the German Unity Day celebrated in memory of the German reunification 31 years ago after half a century of division.
The third of the three important visits is by the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, Maj Gen Mark J. Schindler, on September 19 – 25. Pennsylvania is home to one of the most numerous Lithuanian oversees communities in the U.S., the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Pennsylvania National Guard enjoy a longstanding and close cooperation. It has been rendering all-round assistance to the Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Force, training Lithuanian instructors and conducting joint military training for nearly three decades.
Photo credits: Lithuanian Armed Forces Strategic Communication Department
