Lithuania and the United States continue strengthening the defence cooperation. A bilateral defence cooperation roadmap for 2024-2028 was signed by representatives of the Ministry of National Defence and the U.S. Department of Defense this week in Washington.
The document sets out major directions of cooperation that the Ministry of National Defence and the U.S. Department of Defense will be concentrating on in the period of concern. Measures of deterrence in the Baltic region will be further enhanced, U.S. force presence ensured, as well as the U.S. assistance to the development and strengthening of Lithuania’s defensive capabilities, smoothly conducted Lithuanian procurement procedures with the U.S. , cooperation in defence industry, joint training and exercises, etc. procedures of
The new roadmap was signed by the Defence Policy Director at the Ministry of National Defence Vaidotas Urbelis and U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander.
“Lithuania and the United States are Allies that share the view on the threats to international security and work closely to strengthen deterrence in the Baltic region. Our defence cooperation has transitioned to a new level of quality over the past years. We have the uninterrupted rotations of U.S. battalion at Pabradė, and we are intensely improving infrastructure to host Allied, including U.S., force presence. The scope of defence equipment procurements from the United States has increased, we have over 60 acquisition projects underway concerning such capabilities as the HIMARS artillery system, JLTV Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, Javelin anti-armor missiles. There are also ongoing ambitious projects in cyber capability development and other areas. This roadmap is a testament to the American commitment to intense efforts in the Baltic region to ensure a stronger deterrence,” says V. Urbelis.
The first document of the kind was signed between the Ministry of National Defence and the U.S. Department of Defense back in 2019. The content of the endorsed document will be subject to constant revision and updates based on necessity.
Photo: courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense
