On May 17 representatives of the Ministry of National Defence presented the defence and modernization plans of Lithuania to the NATO Defence Planning Committee and were praised more than ever throughout the history of NATO membership and partnership.
NATO defence planners gave a high assessment to Lithuania’s progress on defence spending, infrastructure development, new procurement and support to Ukraine. NATO highlighted Lithuania’s plans to increase the manpower of the military and its reserve and improve provision for service members. The assessment personnel also pointed out Lithuania’s efforts in implementation of the total defence concept and improvement of public resilience.
This defence planning cycle is special as NATO approach to planning has changed. Part of the capabilities is dedicated exclusively to the defence of concrete regions. The requirement for every unit to be capable of deployment to both, national tasks and international operations, has been removed.
Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
According to Defence Policy Director Vaidotas Urbelis who led the MoD delegation in Brussels, NATO defence planning has become more realistic in the recent years and defence planners are referring closely to the developments in the region and the threat of Russia.
Lithuania is meeting all NATO goals, the key of which are readiness of two mechanized battalions for joint tasks with NATO.
The assessment was a part of the four-year NATO planning cycle during which NATO allies agree on capability targets. The targets and the assessment will be finalized by NATO Ministers of Defence at the NATO meeting in June.
