On October 8th, the Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Arvydas Anušauskas will meet with the Minister of Defence of Germany Christine Lambrecht, who will pay an official visit to Lithuania. During the bilateral meeting, which will take place at the Palace of the Grand Dukes in Vilnius, the Ministers will discuss key cooperation issues and support for Ukraine. Later, the Ministers will travel to Rukla to inaugurate the Forward Command Element of the German Brigade assigned to Lithuania. They will also observe the Brigade’s first exercise at the Gaižiūnai training area.
As part of the implementation of the NATO Madrid Summit decisions on strengthening deterrence and defence in the eastern part of the Alliance, the German 41st Brigade Forward Command Element was deployed in Rukla in early September this year. As the Forward Command Element reaches its full operational capability, it is preparing for its first exercise. Infantry Battalion troops will arrive in Lithuania this week.
After the bilateral meeting and the inauguration of the Forward Command Element, A. Anušauskas and Ch. Lambrecht will observe the exercise at the Gaižiūnai training ground, where the German troops will train together with the King Mindaugas Hussars Battalion of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The German enhanced vigilance in Lithuania is a bilateral agreement between Lithuania and Germany, following NATO decisions taken after Russia started the war in Ukraine. Germany has been making a significant contribution to regional deterrence for several years by leading the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battlegroup in Rukla, established in 2017, also investing in Lithuania’s military infrastructure and contributing to the modernisation of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Information for the media:
The following opportunities are planned for media representatives on Saturday, October 8th:
In Vilnius:
11.00 Official Welcoming Ceremony of the German Minister of Defence
With the participation of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Orchestra and Honour Guard
Venue: Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (Katedros aikštė 4, Vilnius)
Opportunities for the media: Filming, taking photos.
In Rukla
14.15 Inauguration of the Forward Command Element of the 41st Mechanised Infantry Brigade
Venue: the Lithuanian Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment (Jonava district, Rukla, Karaliaus Mindaugo g. 11)
Opportunities for media: Filming, taking photos, interviews with soldiers.
15.15 Press conference of the Lithuanian and German Defence Ministers*
Venue: the Lithuanian Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment (Jonava district, Rukla, Karaliaus Mindaugo g. 11)
Opportunities for the media: Questions, filming, taking photos.
*Simultaneous translation into English, German and Lithuanian during the press conference.
15.50 – 16.30 Lithuanian and German Ministers of Defence visit a German Brigade exercise.
Venue: Gaižiūnai training ground.
Opportunities for the media: Filming, taking photos.
For the interested media, Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence will provide transport Vilnius – Rukla – Vilnius. Please indicate your need for transport when registering.
To attend, please register in advance until 5:00 p.m. of October 6th. Applications will not be considered after the deadline. Freelance reporters and foreign media representatives will need an accreditation issued by the Lithuanian MoD Strategic Communication and Public Relations Department. Every team member should fill in the questionnaire form https://kam.lt/en/ministry-of-national-defence-of-the-republic-of-lithuania-accreditation-form/ and attach passport/ID and Press card copies.
