March 27–April 1 Vice Minister of National Defence Žilvinas Tomkus is on a visit to the United States and Canada. Vice Minister visited the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to discuss further cooperation with the Lithuanian Armed Forces with Commander of the United States Special Operations Command General Bryan P. Fenton.
“We highly appreciate the persistent presence of the U.S. Special Operations Forces in Lithuania. It is a significant enhancement of the security of our country. We are happy to see your forces training in Lithuania. We are also really grateful to you for the support in developing the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces,” said Ž. Tomkus thanking Gen B. P. Fenton for his personal contribution to the efforts to build up the cooperation.
According to Vice Minister, a particularly tight connection has been forged over the long cooperation between the Lithuanian and the U.S. Special Operations Forces and Lithuania prioritizes as much as ever the joint participation in multinational operations. As a result, Lithuania is prepared to assign additional capabilities to the U.S.-operation is requested.
First contacts between the Lithuanian and the U.S. Special Operations Forces were established back in early 1990 and the close cooperation began in 2002. Since 2015, capabilities of the U.S. Special Operations Forces have been deployed in Lithuania persistently.
The United States is enhancing Lithuania’s security not only with its military presence but also with financial assistance in the development of military infrastructure in Lithuania. The Americans also contribute to the efforts to further strengthen Lithuania’s military capabilities.
During the visit, Vice Minister Ž. Tomkus attends the Forum on the European Security and Russian War in Ukraine co-hosted by the University of South Florida (USF) and the Joint Special Operations University (JSOU). Then he will travel to Ottawa to discuss the military cooperation with Lithuania with Deputy Minister of National Defence of Canada Bill Matthews, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Brian May, Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence of the House of commons John McKay and Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada for foreign and security affairs Jordan Zed. The meetings will address military cooperation, upcoming NATO SUmmt in Vilnius in July, regional security and support to Ukraine.
