On March 12 Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas met with Ambassador of Turkey to Lithuania HE Gökhan Turan and Second Secretary Emre Alpay to discuss security and defence cooperation of the two countries, security situation in the eastern flank of NATO, and NATO defence plans. Other topics of the meeting were cooperation with neighbours, assistance to Ukraine, and relations with Russia.
“Lithuania prioritises defence mattes and defence budget, understands the threats to the south of the Alliance well, actively and takes part in international operations and missions in the south together with other allies,” said Minister A. Anušauskas.
Minister thanked for Turkey’s decision to take part in the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states this year again and deploy four F-16 fighter aircraft of the Turkish Air Force to Malbork (Poland).
Lithuanian-Turkish security and defence cooperation
Defence cooperation between Lithuania and Turkey is carried out in accordance with agreements of Lithuanian and Turkish Governments on contacts and cooperation in military technology and science, military training and defence industry.
Lithuanian soldiers attended different courses delivered at Turkey’s military education institutions: cyber terrorism response, crisis management, law of armed conflict, etc.
Turkey is one of the nations that took part in the establishment of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (NATO ENSEC COE) in Vilnius in 2012 alongside Lithuania, Latvia and Italy. Currently, a military representative of Turkey works at the NATO ENSEC COE.
Photo credits: A. Pliadis
