On February 4 the second anniversary of deployment of the multinational NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania for deterrence and defence will be celebrated in Rukla. President of the Republic of Lithuania HE Dalia Grybauskaitė, Minister of Defence of Germany Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, Minister of National Defence Mr. Raimundas Karoblis, and Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Jonas Vytautas Žukas are expected to take part in the commemoration ceremony.
During the anniversary commemoration the NATO eFP BG Commanders will also change over. Lt Col René Braun, German Armed Forces, will be replaced by Lt Col Peer Papenbroock after having served as NATO eFP BG Commander from August 2018.
Over a thousand soldiers of the current NATO eFP BG Lithuania and representatives of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Germany, as well as soldiers of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf, will line up for the formal ceremony on the parade grounds of the Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment in Rukla.
A bilateral meeting of Lithuanian and Federal Ministers of Defence is also planned to take place in Rukla for a discussion over military cooperation.
Deployment of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland was a historical decision taken by the NATO Heads of State and Government in July 2016. The capabilities are primarily a response to the Russian military aggression in Ukraine, and increase of Russia's military potential and show or force in the region.
The NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group deployed in Rukla since early 2017 is led by Germany. Troops with weaponry and equipment are also deployed by Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Croatia, and Iceland. In total, roughly 8 thousand allied soldiers served in the unit on a rotational basis over the two years. The NATO eFP BG is integrated into the Lithuanian Armed Forces Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf.
At different points in 2018 the NATO eFP BG was reinforced by German military units deployed to take part in exercises, actively trained in military training areas in Rukla and Pabradė, took part in international Exercise Iron Wolf, exercises in Poland, Estonia, and Latvia.
For the Media:
Media representatives willing to attend the event on February 4, Monday, at the Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment in Rukla are invited to register until Friday, February 1, 1200hrs, with the Strategic Communication and Public Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defence at: vis@kam.lt.
Only registered media representatives will be admitted.
Information required for registration: full name, represented media outlet, contacts (mobile phone number, e-mail address).
Freelance reporters and foreign media representatives will need accreditation given by the MoD Strategic Communication and Public Relations Department, e-mail: vis@kam.lt Information required: filled out questionnaire form, copies of a personal ID document and confirmation letter from the media outlet.
Media representatives may be asked to present personal ID documents and press card on site.
The event programme includes a solemn line-up of Lithuanian, NATO Battalion, and allied troops, addresses from high-ranking officials of Lithuania and allies, press points with high-ranking officials, opportunities to talk to Lithuanian and allied soldiers, view military equipment and weaponry.
Registered media representatives will receive the programme in greater detail.
POC: Project Officer Maj Skomantas Povilionis, Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf, +370 612 78 315
Photo credit: A.Pliadis (MoD archive)
NATO eFP BG on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eFPLithuania/
