Today, Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas has met with Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic Jaromír Zůna who came to visit with the Czech military personnel serving in the Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania in Rukla.
Ministers discussed the regional security situation in the region, enhancement of NATO capabilities, especially air defence, agenda of the upcoming NATO Summit, and assistance to Ukraine.
Minister R. Kaunas thanked the Czech Republic for the consistent and enduring contribution to the security of the Eastern flank. The country has completed four rotations of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states so far and actively takes part in NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) activities in Lithuania. Czech military personnel are sent to the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Lithuania on a regular basis.
Minister dedicated a significant portion of the meeting to air defence issues. R. Kaunas underscored the need to reach agreements on strengthening air defence at the upcoming NATO meeting in Ankara. Ministers also agreed to cooperate on training specialist personnel to operate the acquired radars, as well as to share technical information and expertise to optimize radar capability results.
R. Kaunas also noted that Lithuania collaborated with the Czech defence industry. “The passive radar system procurement is already on the home straight. Advanced surveillance systems will improve our effectiveness against the trespasser drones and smuggling balloons. This is one of the complex approach elements as we strengthen air defence, and the process will continue,” Minister said.
When addressing the war in Ukraine, R. Kaunas underlined the necessity to maintain the long-term support to the war-torn country and invited the Czech Republic to join the Capability Coalition for Deming coordinated by Lithuania and Iceland.
