On January 29 Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Raimundas Karoblis and Minister of National Defence of Poland Mariusz Błaszczak will discuss concrete steps to strengthen regional – security cooperation of the respective armed forces on ensuring defendability of the Suwalki Gap, possibilities to integrate national airspace and defence systems, and the need to retain a continuous U.S. presence in the region – at the first meeting as the Lithuanian-Polish Defence Council in Vilnius.
The Ministers will also sign a joint communique laying out areas of closer cooperation between the two countries, and Chiefs of Defence of Lithuania and Poland will endorse an act of affiliation of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf and the 15th Mechanised Brigade of the Polish Armed Forces to the Multinational Division North-East, that way embedding the objective of both countries to train and act together in order to protect the Suwalki Gap.
Affiliation of the Iron Wolf Brigade to the Multinational Division North-East will open opportunities for the Lithuanian brigade to ensure proper readiness to act as part of division through training and exercises. It will also step up interoperability with Poland, one of the most reliable Lithuania’s allies in security and defence, as well as with other NATO allies.
The Lithuanian-Polish Council is arranged in order to put into practice the Joint Declaration of the President of Lithuania and the President of Poland concerning partnership in security area endorsed on 21 February 2019. The Presidents agree in the declaration to combine efforts to achieve cornerstone objectives for regional security both, bilaterally and in NATO and EU formats.
For the Media
Media representative are invited to cover the January 29 meeting at the Palace of Grand Dukes of Lithuania, Vilnius, media opportunities will be provided to cover:
– formal welcome ceremony for Lithuanian and Polish Defence Ministers and Chiefs of Defence in the yard of the Palace of Grand Dukes of Lithuania (0935 hrs);
– protocol part of the bilateral meeting;
– signature of the Joint Communicate/Declaration (1200 hrs);
– press point by the Ministers of National Defence (1205 hrs);
Media representatives are invited to attend the press point and the protocol part, please register until Tuesday, January 28, 1400 hrs, at [email protected] (Strategic Communication and Public Relations Department, MoD). Information required for registration: full name, represented media outlet, contacts (mobile phone number, e-mail address), pointing out the part of the event that will be attended.
Freelance reporters and foreign media representatives will need accreditation given by the MoD Strategic Communication and Public Relations Department, e-mail: [email protected]. Information required: filled out questionnaire form, copies of a personal ID document and confirmation letter from the media outlet.
Media representatives should arrive at the Palace of Grand Dukes of Lithuania no later than at 1145 hrs to cover the Defence Ministers’ press point.
POC: Aušra Vaitkevičiūtė, [email protected] , +370 614 29091
Lithuanian-Polish security and defence cooperation
Defence cooperation of Lithuania and Poland is crucial for Lithuanian, as well as regional security. The two countries have been developing intense bilateral relations since 1993. One of the most recent instances of cooperation between Lithuania and Poland is the bilateral agreement signed in 2019 on the creation of a secure communication channel for radar surveillance data exchange. It will help strengthening defence of the whole region together by developing a unified air defence system with partners.
Poland is one of the most active contributors to the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states. It has already deployed 9 detachments with equipment to protect the Baltic skies and plans deploying again in 2020.
Lithuania has been contributing to the activities of the top NATO unit in Poland, the Multinational Corps Northeast, since 2003. Eight Lithuanian officers have been serving it its headquarters in Szczecin since 2015. Formation of the Multinational Division North-East HQ began in 2017 by initiative of the Polish side. At peacetime it coordinates conduct of joint military training and exercises and interoperability of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Groups in the Baltic states and Poland through national brigades. Two Lithuanian officers have been serving at the headquarters of the Multinational Division North-East (MND NE) in Elblag (Poland) since 2017.
In terms of NATO assurance, Poland deployed two land force rotations to train in Lithuania in 2016. Lithuania and Poland cooperate actively by sending soldiers to train in regular multinational exercises held in each other’s territories. That not only increases the ability of Lithuanian and Polish militaries to act together but also sends a strong signal of deterrence.
The bilateral cooperation with Poland is developed in the framework of the European Union. In November 2018 Poland joined the Lithuanian-initiated EU cyber rapid response teams creation project.
Lithuania launched an initiative to develop EU Cyber Rapid Response Teams (CRRTs) that rotate every six months and are formed by experts of cyber-incident research and other security institutions from the participating countries. The cyber security units of EU member states are planned to join neutralisation and investigation virtually, and if necessary, physically, in case of a significant cyber-incident. Lithuanian and Polish authorities responsible for investigation and management of computer security incidents are part of the EU Computer Security Incident Response Teams’ (CSIRTs) Network. EU member states and EU computer emergency response teams exchange information and coordinate actions concerning cyber-incident response and develop further methods of operative cooperation.
Both countries also work together on military procurement, for instance, the Lithuanian Armed Forces bought GROM short-range anti-aircraft defence systems from a Polish manufacturer. Poland also handed over the Twin Star air defence training equipment to Lithuania.
In 2014 Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine established the LITPOLUKRBRIG trilateral brigade headquartered in Szczecin, Poland. The brigade was named after Great Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Konstantinas Ostrogiškis and Defence Ministers of the participating countries agreed that the brigade and its subunits would be deployed to multinational operations according to provisions and principles of the international law. Soldiers of the Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion and five staff officers serve in LITPOLUKRBRIG on Lithuania’s behalf, one of the latter is second-in-command of the Brigade.
Photos: Ministers of National Defence of Lithuania and Poland meet in Vilnius on 22 November 2019 (credits: Alfredas Pliadis).
