The political team of Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas undergoes changes as Vice Minister Vilius Semeška farewells the National Defence System for other career plans after two years of intense work.
Major responsibility areas of the position are national defence budget, financial resource management and acquisitions policy, National Defence System procurement, classified contracts, logistics and infrastructure, management and development of National Defence System property.
“Vilius Semeška provided a god and responsible oversight in the national defence financial resource area, focusing particularly on an efficient and rational spending. Major objects of Armed Forces modernization have been achieved in the area of procurement: contracts have been made to buy the HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Switchblade kamikaze drones, Caesar self-propelled wheeled howitzers, Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, artillery radars, and many other different kinds of equipment and weaponry,” says Minister A. Anušauskas.
Minister expressed gratitude to as V. Semeška for the significant contribution in resolving the challenges of development and improvement of the Vilkas IFVs as a result of concentrated effort in coordination with the defence industry.
A strategic project on the Government’s programme and Minister’s agenda, the decisions necessary for a new military training range in Lithuania, preparation for the work, and subsequent start of the development of Rūdninkai Training Area, were also in the infrastructure area under V. Semeška’s oversight. Also, installation of three military facilities have begun as a result of successful negations , the Defence Material and Infrastructure Management Agencies were moved to modern quarters. Development of stalling military infrastructure projects and objects gathered pace (building of Class 5 ammunition warehouses, barracks, equipment sheletering and maintenance facilities, camps for Lithuanian and NATO troops).
V. Semeška actively organized acquisition and transfer of equipment and weaponry crowdfunded for by the Lithuanian citizens when Russia launched the war in Ukraine: the Bayraktar combat UAV with ammunition, Warmate kamikaze drones, equipment manufacture in Lithuania.
“A conscript serves for six months in the Lithuanian Armed Forces. I have served honestly and without sparing myself for two years to strengthen the National Defence System. I thank Minister and the Armed Forces leadership for their trust in me,” says V. Semeška.
Trained in economy and banking, V. Semeška served on the Central Electoral Commission and worked as Political Group Secretary of the Seimas, experienced in working in the private sector as head of several international companies, as board member and chair.
