Cooperation with partner countries outside NATO and the EU

Legal basis for military cooperation. An agreement on cooperation in the field of defense was signed between the Ministry of National Defense of Lithuania and Ministry of Defence of Ukraine in 1994.

Military diplomatic representation. The Ukrainian Defense Attaché has been accredited in Lithuania since 1997 and resides in Vilnius. The position of Land Forces Attaché was established in September 2017.

The Defense Attaché of the Republic of Lithuania has been accredited in Ukraine since 2004 and resided in Kiev until the beginning of the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. The Defense Attaché to Ukraine has three deputies. Currently, the Defense Attaché works in Vilnius, and the deputies work at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania, which has temporarily moved from Kiev to the Republic of Poland. Since July 2017, the position of Defense Advisor has been established at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Kiev. Currently, the Defense Advisor performs his duties from Vilnius.

Bilateral military cooperation. A bilateral military cooperation plan is signed every year, consultations are held on political and military issues. Cooperation includes regular meetings at the highest political and military level, expert consultations between military forces and departments of the defense ministries, and participation in joint military exercises.

Support provided by the Ministry of National Defense:

1. Expert consultations on issues military education at the strategic-level. In 2020, Lithuania and Canada conducted an audit of the Ukrainian professional military education system, on the basis of which reforms in this area are continued.
2. Consultations in defense planning, cybersecurity, financial management, personnel policy, strategic communication, and other areas for departments of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the General Staff.
3. Military training operation of Lithuanian Armed Forces in Ukraine (under the mandate of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania). The mission’s goal is to train instructors and military units in various fields according to Western-style training programs. Training is being organized for basic soldier instructors, shooting instructors, sniper instructors, as well as courses for military police and non-commissioned officers. About 30 Lithuanian military instructors are regularly deployed in the mission. They train Ukrainian military personnel independently or together with NATO allies.
4. Treatment and rehabilitation of wounded soldiers. Ukrainian soldiers injured during the anti-terrorist operation underwent rehabilitation at the Soldier Rehabilitation Center in Druskininkai since the autumn of 2014. 295 Ukrainian soldiers were treated in the rehabilitation program from 2014 to 2020.
5. Training of representatives of the Ukrainian military in Lithuanian and international military training institutions. The Military Academy of Lithuania and other training institutions of the Lithuanian Armed Forces organize various courses for representatives of Ukraine. The Ministry of National Defence also finances the studies of Ukrainian soldiers at the Baltic Defence College.
6. Continuous material support. In order to help Ukraine fight Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, Lithuania provides material support to the Ukrainian military. Material support for ~ 6 million euros was provided from 2014 to 2019. (Soviet-type ammunition, equipment, military-technical support, NATO trust funds). Body armor with ballistic belts, thermal imaging surveillance devices (total value ~1 million euros) and an L-39ZA training aircraft were transferred in 2021.
7. Joint brigade of Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine – LITPOLUKRBRIG. A trilateral brigade was established by agreement of the Minister of National Defense of Lithuania and Ministers of Defense of Poland and Ukraine in 2014. The brigade headquarters is located in Lublin, and its task is to strengthen the capabilities of Ukrainian soldiers in accordance with NATO procedures (work at the headquarters, joint trilateral exercises).

Command of the brigade is carried out on a rotational basis every three years. In 2018-2021, the brigade headquarters was commanded by a Ukrainian officer, in 2015-2018, the brigade headquarters was commanded by a Polish officer. Currently, the brigade is commanded by Poland (Lithuania missed one rotation), and Lithuania holds the position of deputy commander. Working issues are resolved in a joint Coordination Group of representatives of the Ministry of National Defense of Lithuania and Ministries of Defense of Poland and Ukraine and the armies of the said countries. Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine each contribute an infantry battalion to the brigade, personnel for the formation of specialized units and the brigade headquarters.

• We participate in joint military exercises, including NATO exercises.
• Ukrainian representatives participate in the Regional Cyber Defense Center in Kaunas, which began operating in 2021.

International advisory formats:

1. Since 2016, Lithuania has been appointing a representative to the Defense Reform Advisory Board (hereinafter – DRAB):a strategic-level group of advisors from the United States, the UK, Canada, Germany, Poland, and Lithuania.
2. Multinational Joint Commission on Defense Reform and Security Cooperation in Ukraine (hereinafter – MJC) – a joint commission of the United States, the UK, Canada, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, and Ukraine. Lithuania is represented by the Chief of the Defence Staff.  The Commission addresses issues of support for the reforms of the Ukrainian military, and has 13 subcommittees. Lithuania participates in the activities of subcommittees of the Land Forces, Special Operations Forces, and Military Police, and heads the Subcommittee of Non-Commissioned Officer Reform. In May 2018, a professional military training subcommittee was established under the leadershipof Lithuania and NATO’s Deep – Defence Education Enhancement Programme.
3. QUINT format – informal coordination meetings between the USA, the UK, Canada, Poland, and Lithuania, held at four levels (ministers, military commanders, political directors, and specialists). The purpose of this format is to coordinate the provision of support to Ukraine.

Lithuanian military advisors in Ukraine

• A military advisor on professional military education and training (Lt. Col.) and a military advisor on non-commissioned officer training (Sr. Maj.) were appointed to the NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine since 2016. Two new advisors (Col.) on command and control issues, as well as an advisor on military police issues, started working in the office in 2022.
• The Deputy Defence Attaché of Lithuania in Ukraine, who advises on SOF issues, is also the representative of the NATO SOF Headquarters in Ukraine. 
• The representative of the Ministry of National Defence worked as a deputy head of the NATO Information and Documentation Centre in Ukraine from 2016 to 2019, she consulted with Ukrainian institutions on issues of strategic communication.
• Lithuania has also participated in the Nordic-Baltic Assistance Programme (hereinafter – NBAP),which consults and coordinates its actions on issues of providing assistance to Ukraine, since 2015. Lithuania chairs this programme during 2022.

Cooperation in international military operations

• Ukrainian and Lithuanian soldiers served together in the National Support Element in Kabul from 2011 to 2021.
• Ukraine sent military specialists to the Lithuanian-led Afghan Air Force Training Group in Kandahar from 2011 to 2014.
• Ukrainian soldiers (staff officers, military medics, explosive ordinance disposal specialists, logistics specialists, and civil-military cooperation specialists) participated in the activities of the Lithuanian-led Ghor Provincial Reconstruction Group in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan from 2007 to 2013.

Legal basis for military cooperation. An updated bilateral agreement was signed between the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania and the Ministry of Defense of Moldova on cooperation in the field of defence on 18 May 2011. The first such agreement was signed in 2006. The agreement on the training of Moldovan officers at the Military Academy of Lithuania was signed in 2005.

Military diplomatic representation. The Defense Attaché of the Republic of Lithuania to Moldova of 2011–2019 resided in Kiev. The Defense Attaché of the Republic of Lithuania has resided in Chisinau since 2019.

Moldova has not appointed its military representative to Lithuania.

Bilateral military cooperation is carried out according to annually signed plans. Regular political and military consultations are held with representatives of the Moldovan Ministry of Defense on defense on issues of reforms. Bilateral ministerial visits are organized.

Military training and education.. We have been inviting Moldovan officers to various courses and seminars of short-term security studies organized in Lithuania, English language courses and Junior Staff Officer courses at the Military Academy of Lithuania since 2004, and we are financing the studies of one representative at the Strategic Level Courses of the Baltic Defense College. Moldovan soldiers participate in medical training and an international instructor training at the Military Academy of Lithuania.

Multilateral cooperation. Lithuania actively participates in the activities of the NATO Deep to reform the Moldovan non-commissioned officer training system.

Trust Fund. Moldova actively uses the Trust Fund established in 2014 by the UK, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia to promote and financially support the participation of Eastern Partnership countries in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. The participation of Moldovan representatives in EU missions and operations (EUTM Mali, EUMAM CAR), participation in pre-mission and targeted training, and other courses are funded from the funds of the Trust Fund. In total, support to 60 Moldovan representatives from various institutions (Moldovan Ministries of Defence, Interior, Justice, Coordination, Security and Intelligence Services) was provided from 2014 to 2019.

Other support to Moldova. The Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania performs the functions of NATO Contact Embassy in Moldova during the period from 2019 to 2022. This allows Lithuanian diplomats to be more involved in issues related to Moldovan defense reforms. The Embassy also organizes public diplomacy events to strengthen the resilience of Moldovan civic society to disinformation and hybrid threats.

Legal basis for military cooperation. An updated agreement on defence cooperation, replacing the agreement of 2001, was signed in Vilnius on 1 July 2013. An agreement on military studies was signed at the Military Academy of Lithuania in 2004. A bilateral technical agreement on the deployment of Georgian forces in the Lithuanian-led Ghor Provincial Reconstruction Group in Afghanistan was signed in 2007. An agreement on mutual protection of classified information was signed in Brussels in 2009.

Military diplomatic representation. Lithuania appointed a defense attaché to Georgia, who resides in Tbilisi, in 2005.

A Georgian military representative has been appointed to Lithuania since 2007, residing in Vilnius. A deputy defense attaché to Georgia was also appointed in 2019.

Bilateral military cooperation is carried out according to annually signed plans. Ministers of Defense, military commanders, and other high-level representatives of the national defense system meet regularly to discuss the most pressing issues of cooperation. Expert meetings are held on strategic communication and public relations, strategic planning, hybrid threats, cybersecurity, and other issues. The National Defense Volunteer Forces cooperate with the Georgian National Guard, as well as the land and special operations forces of both countries, and military academies. Georgian and Lithuanian soldiers participate in joint exercises in both countries. Georgian representatives are invited to study at Lithuanian military education institutions (English language, medic, instructor, and officer courses) and their studies at the Baltic Defence College are financed. In recent years, cooperation in the field of cybersecurity has been developed intensively – bilateral consultations are held, joint participation in national and NATO cybersecurity exercises, and Georgian experts have also joined the activities of the Lithuanian-US Regional Cyber Defence Centre in Kaunas, which began operating in 2021.

Multilateral initiatives. The Nordic-Baltic countries, together with the UK, established a NATO-Georgian vocational training programme in 2009. It was designed to train civil servants working in the security and defense sector. Lithuania, together with Latvia, led a public relations working group and implemented various specialist training projects from 2009 to 2014. Lithuanian specialists participated in a working group led by Norway, which advised the Georgian Ministry of Defence on issues of the management of human resources. Lithuania supported financially the Vocational Training Programme, operating on the principle of a Trust Fund. A joint NATO-Georgian Training and Evaluation Centre was established in 2015 at the initiative of the Nordic-Baltic Support Programme. Lithuania has been participating in its activities since 2015, and provided financial support for the purchase of the necessary equipment for the centre in 2017.

Cooperation in international operations. From June 2007 to August 2013, Georgian military medics worked in the Lithuanian-led PRT in Afghanistan.

Legal basis for military cooperation. In June 2012, an agreement on cooperation in the field of defense was renewed in Yerevan, which replaced the agreement signed in 2002. An agreement on military studies was signed at the Military Academy of Lithuania in 2004.

Military diplomatic representation. In 2006, Lithuania appointed a defense attaché to Armenia, residing in Tbilisi.

Armenia has not appointed its military representative to Lithuania.

Bilateral military cooperation is carried out according to annually signed plans. Ministers of defense and other representatives of ministries and the military discuss the most pressing issues of cooperation during bilateral meetings or military-political consultations. Armenian representatives are invited to observe exercises in Lithuania. Lithuania shares its experience in the fields of legal, public relations, non-commissioned officer training, military environmental protection, demining, and cyber defense areas, as well as advises the Armenian Ministry of Defense on improving democratic civilian control of the armed forces by reforming the legal system. Armenian representatives are invited to study at institutions of Lithuanian military education (courses of English language, medics, instructors, and staff junior officers).

Multilateral initiatives. A Lithuanian representative participated in the activities of a NATO-led expert group, the aim of which is to help Armenia reform the military training system in accordance with NATO standards. Lithuania consulted Armenia on the reorganization of the non-commissioned and junior officer training system.

Legal basis for military cooperation. In 2012, an agreement on cooperation in the field of defense was renewed, replacing the agreement signed in 2002. A bilateral agreement on military studies at the Military Academy of Lithuania was signed in 2004.

Military diplomatic representation. Lithuania appointed a defense attaché to Azerbaijan, who resides in Tbilisi, in 2008.

Azerbaijan has not appointed a military representative to Lithuania.

Bilateral military cooperation, in accordance with annually signed bilateral plans, takes place in such areas as military environmental protection, information security, defense management, development of a military training system, development of a legal system, development of basic defense documents, cyber defense, public relations, and demining. Cooperation in improving the level of English language testing and developing a legal framework in accordance with NATO requirements has been ongoing since 2017.

Azerbaijani officers are invited to observe exercises. Ministers of defense and other officials of ministries and the military discuss the most pressing issues of cooperation during bilateral meetings or military-political consultations. Azerbaijani officers have been trained in English language and junior staff officer courses at the Military Academy of Lithuania and the Baltic Defense College since 2004 at the expense of Lithuania. They have been invited to military medic courses since 2008.Multilateral initiatives. A Lithuanian representative participated for some time in the activities of a NATO-led expert group, the aim of which is to help Azerbaijan reform the military training system in accordance with NATO standards. Lithuania consulted Azerbaijan on the reorganization of the non-commissioned officer training system.

Legal basis for military cooperation. A Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of defense, military industry, research and development was signed in Vilnius in 2004. A bilateral agreement on the protection of classified military information was signed in Israel in 2011. A letter of intent on cooperation in the field of cybersecurity was signed between the Israeli National Cyber Directorate and the National Cyber Security Center under the Ministry of National Defense in 2019.

There is no military diplomatic representation.

Bilateral cooperation. The Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the Minister, Deputy Ministers, and the Chancellor of the Ministry of National Defense visited Israel on working visits or met with Israeli representatives in Lithuania from 2016 to 2019. The first bilateral security-defense consultations at the level of department directors were held on 5-6 December 2017 in Vilnius.

5 essential directions for further cooperation are planned: 1) holding of regular bilateral consultations on security and defense issues; 2) cooperation in the field of acquisitions/defense industry; 3) cooperation in the fields of cybersecurity; 4) exchange of experience, familiarization with the universal conscription system of Israel, public resilience, public preparation for defense, and organization of resistance; 5) the possibility of inviting Israeli lecturers/instructors to the Baltic Defense College.

Cyber ​​defense is one of the most important areas of cooperation. Israel suggests to get interested in their cyber defense expertise and products, exchange experience in repelling cyber attacks or developing new projects to combat cyber threats. Lithuanian representatives are often invited to participate and give presentations on issues of cybersecurity.

Representatives of the defense industry also cooperate, negotiations are underway on the supply of elements of weaponry and the provision of services for upgrading existing weaponry. Israeli companies participated in the modernization of mortars used by the Lithuanian Armed Forces and in strengthening the protection of Lithuanian airspace. Currently, one of the largest projects for strengthening the capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces is still underway - the acquisition of the IFV Vilkas. One of its main components was developed by the Israeli company Rafael.

Currently, all military cooperation activities are suspended.

Legal basis for military cooperation. A bilateral agreement on cooperation in the field of defense was signed in Beijing in 2012.

Military diplomatic representation.

The Lithuanian Defense Attaché resided in Beijing from 2016 to 2021.

China appointed its military representative to Lithuania in 1993, who resided in Warsaw, and resided in Vilnius from 2001 to January 2022.

Bilateral military cooperation. High-ranking Chinese military delegations visited Lithuania in 2000, 2006, 2011, 2012, and 2016. Lithuanian Ministers of National Defense paid official visits to China in 2004 and 2012.

There is no plan for bilateral cooperation. Bilateral cooperation is not active and no joint projects are being implemented. Practical bilateral contacts have been interrupted since the breakout of Covid-19 pandemic in 2019.

Legal basis for military cooperation. An agreement on cooperation in the field of defense was signed in Seoul in 2010.

Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Defense Industry was signed in 2024.

Military diplomatic representation.  Lithuania is represented in the region by a defense advisor residing in Japan. 

The Defense Attaché of the Republic of Korea to Lithuania was appointed in 2010 and resides in Warsaw.

Bilateral military cooperation. 

Representatives of the Republic of Korea show interest in participating in the acquisitions of equipment carried out by the Republic of Lithuania. High-level meetings of officials are held on the sidelines of events. The aim is to strengthen cooperation on issues of cybersecurity, and jointly implement joint projects in this area while assessing emerging threats.

Legal basis for military cooperation.  An agreement on cooperation in the field of defense was signed in Tokyo on 19 October 2023

Military diplomatic representation. The first Japanese Defense Attaché was accredited to Lithuania in October 2022.

A Defense Advisor was appointed at the Lithuanian Embassy in Japan in January 2023.

Bilateral military cooperation. Active Lithuanian-Japanese cooperation on defense and security issues took place in the Ghor Provincial Reconstruction Group in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2013. Japan financed projects in the Ghor province for $50 million during the entire period of support.

High-level meetings became more active since 2021. Areas of cooperation include consultations on regional security issues, cyber and energy security, academic military cooperation, and hybrid threats.

Japan joined the Ukrainian Demining Capability Coalition led by Lithuania and Iceland in 2024.

Legal basis for military cooperation. An agreement on cooperation in the field of defense was signed in Singapore on 24 January 2022.

Military diplomatic representation. Lithuania is represented in the region by a defense advisor residing in Japan.

Bilateral military cooperation. The first contacts, in which it was agreed to strengthen bilateral dialogue, were established with Singapore in 2019.

The aim is to expand cooperation in the areas of strategic communication, cybersecurity, academic military cooperation, and global defense.

Representatives of the Ministry of National Defense have been regularly invited to participate in the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore since 2019. This highest-level annual meeting of defense ministers of Asia, Pacific, North America, and Europe provides an in-depth discussion of issues arising in the Indo-Pacific region and potentially affecting the architecture of global security.

Currently, all military cooperation activities are suspended, except for verification.

Legal basis for military cooperation. A bilateral agreement on cooperation in the field of defense was signed in Vilnius in 2010. The Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania and the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus signed a Protocol of Intent on mutual informing the parties about unauthorized situations in the airspace over the Ignalina VNPP and its approaches in 2001. Based on the agreement, the parties established a communication channel between the Central Command Point of the Belarus Air Force and the Airspace Control Center of the Lithuanian Air Force. Taking into account the provisions of the Vienna Document, an agreement on the implementation of additional security and confidence-building measures on the basis of diplomatic notes was reached in 2001. The agreement between the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania and the Ministry of Defence of Belarus on the exchange of information on aircraft flights in the border zone was signed in 2003, and renewed in 2008 and in 2018. The agreement regulates the terms and procedure for the exchange of information.

Military diplomatic representation. The office of the Lithuanian Defence Attaché to Belarus was established in Minsk in 2004. Belarus appointed a Defence Attaché to Lithuania in 1998, the Belarus Defence Attaché resided in Vilnius until July 2021. The Lithuanian Defence Attaché to Belarus was recalled for consultations.

Bilateral military cooperation. Practical military cooperation has been carried out with the Ministry of Defence of Belarus since 2004. A bilateral cooperation plan was drawn up annually. The cooperation included working meetings and consultations of AF specialists, linguists, ecologists, military geographers, lawyers, and armament inspectors, English language training for representatives of Belarus at the Military Academy of Lithuania, and training of Lithuanian armament inspectors in Belarus. The Lithuanian Embassy in Minsk performed the functions of a NATO contact embassy from 2004 to 2010, during which educational visits to Lithuania by soldiers, youth, representatives of non-governmental organizations, teachers, and journalists were carried out, introducing them to Lithuania’s security and defense policy and military units.

Security and confidence-building measures. Lithuania and Belarus agreed on an additional quota for inspections and military data assessment visits in 2001 in accordance with Vienna Document on Confidence- and Security-Building Measures of 1999. In addition, information is exchanged with Belarus about the largest military event, in which the number of participating military forces does not exceed the threshold for notifiable military activities set out in the Vienna Document. Observers are exchanged during the organization of military exercises.

Currently, all military cooperation activities are suspended.

Legal basis for military cooperation. Lithuania has no agreement on bilateral military cooperation with Russia.

Military diplomatic representation. The Lithuanian Defense Attaché to Russia, residing in Moscow, has been appointed since 1995. Russia has appointed its military representative to Lithuania, residing in Vilnius, since 1994.

Bilateral military cooperation. Cooperation with Russia included invitation of observers to military exercises, visits of naval vessels and participation of vessels of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Federation in mine search and neutralization operations in the Baltic Sea, taking place in Lithuanian waters, participation of Russian officers in environmental protection courses in Lithuania, participation in military sports and cultural events, until 1 April 2014, when NATO countries decided to terminate military cooperation with Russia due to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

The Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre of Lithuanian Navy, the services of Poland and the Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation coordinate actions and cooperate on issues of search and rescue, pollution prevention, and liquidation of consequences in the Baltic Sea. In Poland and the Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation, these works are the responsibility of civilian institutions.

Multilateral relations in the field of security and defence were developed within the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Lithuania participated in the NATO-Russia Council, the practical activities of which were suspended on 01 April 2014 by the decision of NATO Foreign Ministers in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Security and confidence-building measures were implemented until 04 April 2014, when their implementation was suspended unilaterally by Russia. Although Lithuania is not a party to the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe, in accordance with the provisions of this treaty, Lithuania and Russia agreed in a bilateral agreement concluded in 2001 to exchange information on the armed forces in the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Lithuania annually through the countries’ missions to international organizations in Vienna. Such an exchange of information took place for the first time in early 2001 and proceeded smoothly every year until 2007, when Russia declared a moratorium on participation in the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe and suspended the exchange of military information with Lithuania. Implementing the same agreement of 2001, Lithuanian and Russian arms control inspectors conducted annual military data assessment visits in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Document.

Issues of military transit. Military transit is based on a bilateral agreement between Lithuania and Russia and the rules adopted by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.

The Governments of Lithuania and Russia signed the Agreement “On the Transit of Troops and Military Cargo of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and Deported from the Federal Republic of Germany through the Territory of the Republic of Lithuania” on 18 November 1993. It became the basis for military transit. The Agreement provides that transit military transports shall be carried out upon receipt of permits in accordance with the applicable laws of Lithuania and the norms of international law. The Agreement expired on 31 December 1994, however, the Governments of Lithuania and Russia exchanged notes on 18 January 1995 and agreed that the provisions of the Agreement of 18 November 1993 would continue to apply to Russian military transit.

The Government of the Republic of Lithuania adopted the Rules “On the Transportation of Dangerous and Military Cargo of Foreign States through the Territory of the Republic of Lithuania” (No. 938 of 3 October 1994). The procedure provided for in the Rules has become more and more stringent. Government Resolution No. 691 of 19 June 2000 prohibited the transportation of liquid rocket fuel and provided for the possibility of limiting the amount of explosives transported, while Resolution No. 63 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 17 January 2002 established the provision that a transit permit may not be issued if sanctions established by the UN, EU, and OSCE are violated or if interests of Lithuania’s national security, international agreements, and obligations so require.