On December 5–8 acting Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas is conducting a visit to the United States where he will attend the prestigious defence community event, the Reagan National Defense Forum. The forum brings together political, military, defence industry and media leaders annually to review and assess the policies that strengthening the U.S. national defence in the light of the global threat environment.
The Forum is expected to be attended by the U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, next National Security Advisor nominee Congressman Michael Waltz, other Congressmen, including Adam Smith, Don Bacon and Mike Rogers, U.S. Senators, including Mark Kelly, Joni Ernst and Jeanne Shaheen. Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III, Commander of the United States Special Operations Command General Bryan P. Fenton, top executives of Lockheed Martin and AeroVironment, Inc., and other leaders of the security policy, industry and the incoming U.S. administration are expected to be at the Forum.
Minister is planned to see U.S. Congressmen and potential members of the next Administration to discuss the U.S. engagement in Europe and assistance to Ukraine on the margins. Meetings with military and industrial representatives are also scheduled.
The United States is Lithuania’s strategic partner and one of the key Allies for Baltic security. The Americans are particularly actively contributing to the assurance measures in the Baltic states strengthening stability and security in the region. The United States has provided over USD 200 million financial assistance through different funds for the Lithuanian Armed Forces capacity building.
Measures of deterrence and U.S. force presence in the region, U.S. assistance in strengthening and developing Lithuania’s defensive capabilities, cooperation in the area of defence industry and other bilateral security and defence activities will be continued as laid out in the Lithuanian-U.S. bilateral Roadmap Action Plan signed for 2024-2028.
Lithuania is the biggest buyer of U.S. weaponry among the Baltic states. Our medium term acquisitions from the United States stand at USD 1.3 billion and constitute nearly 20% of the total of our Lithuania’s acquisitions.
