More civilian and military personnel of the National Defence System will be assigned to NATO and EU operational headquarters and ready to be sent to international operations next year. On December 22 the Seimas passed a corresponding resolution that was proposed by the Ministry of National Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and tabled by the President.
The resolution establishes a legal basis for and the maximum number of civilian and military personnel of the National Defence System to be delegated to EU and NATO operational headquarters, NATO Rapid Response Force (NRF) and the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) and earmarked for multinational operations in 2023.
In 2023 up to 447 civilian and military personnel of the National Defence System assigned to NRF, NATO and EU operational headquarters will be deployable to multinational operations. The number of civilian and military personnel of the National Defence System assigned to the JEF and allowed to take part in international operations in NATO and EU member states will increase to 160.
“We are increasing the number of troops assigned to international operational headquarters and thus strengthening Lithuania’s contribution to NATO readiness for collective defence and joint operations with EU allies. The assigned troops will deploy upon decision of the North Atlantic Council, Council of the EU or the UK, the framework nation of the JEF, after consultations with the other JEF contributors,” says Arvydas Anušauskas.
The civilian and military personnel of the National Defence System currently serve in eight different international operations and EU training missions.
