Defence Policy Director at the Ministry of National Defence Vaidotas Urbelis attended a meeting of the Ministers of Defence of Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) partner nations in Edinburg (Scotland) earlier today. At the meeting, Ministers of Defence of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Iceland or their delegates reiterated the solidarity and cooperation on provision of aid to Ukraine and security of the wider Baltic and the High North regions.
The JEF Defence Ministers expressed steadfast support to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Joint Expeditionary Force has been at the forefront of providing diplomatic, financial, humanitarian and military support since the war was started. The JEF partner nations have also carried oud coordinated activities to strengthen the Alliance in the face of the growing Russian aggression and thus bolstering significantly the security of Northern Europe. The JEF Ministers and representatives also discussed the latest development in the War in Ukraine and voiced a united stance on mutual assistance to Ukraine.
MoD Defence Policy Director communicated Lithuania’s position at the meeting placing a special emphasis on the need to continue the assistance to Ukraine in military training area. Lithuania hosted first Ukrainian service members for training back in April and is contributing a team of 15 instructors to the British-led basic military training conducted for the Ukrainian in the UK. Lithuania’s contribution has been deemed success therefore it will continue as Lithuania backs Ukraine’s subsequent victory alongside other JEF partner nations.
JEF military activity in Northern Europe has been expanded has expanded to raise the level of security for JEF partner nations and the wider region. Exercise Joint Protector 2022 currently wrapping in Denmark has drilled collective JEF response to arising threats and potential crisis scenarios.
The JEF partner nations also deployed capabilities and rendered practical security assurances to Finland and Sweden in the process of NATO accession. The Ministers once again expressed an unwavering support to Sweden’s and Finland’s NATO membership.
The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a brigade-sized high-readiness capability designed to respond to emergencies in Europe and the Baltic Sea region. The United Kingdom is the framework nation of the force also formed by maritime, air and land contributions of ten Northern European partner nations.
Photo credits:
Main – courtesy of the British Ministry of Defence
2,3 – Lithuanian Armed Forces (Lithuanian troops continue training Ukrainian colleagues in the UK)
