On October 5 the Government approved the draft protocol submitted by the Ministry of National Defence on retrieving the funds Lithuania had transferred to the Afghan National Army (ANA) Trust Fund that remained unused and employing it in support of Ukraine in its defence against the aggressor.
“Lithuania was supporting the Afghan National Security Forces within our scope of resource every year from 2015 to 2021 through the NATO Trust Fund and was diligently fulfilling its commitments. The funds are currently frozen so we wish to retrieve it and divert to Ukraine. We are planning to use the larger part of the remaining funds to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine with Lithuanian-made winter clothing for the Ukrainian military,” said Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
Lithuania’s part in the fund is currently USD 2 million 876 thousand, USD 2.15 of it is retrievable or may be transferred to other NATO funds. The remaining amount, approx. USD 722.2 thousand, will be available for redistribution later on, it has been agreed to transfer it to the bank account of the Comprehensive Assistance Package in 2023.
Like other Allies, Lithuania was contributing to the ANA Trust Fund, USD 500 thousand every year, specifically. Last such payment was made in spring 2021.
In the summer of 2021 the Taliban forces captured all major cities of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and in August – Kabul. It has been renamed as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the Afghan National Army has been disbanded, thus the Fund no longer supports Afghanistan and its assets are frozen.
