Minister of National Defence Dovilė Šakalienė and Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff of the Ministry of Defence of Japan General Hiroaki Uchikura conducting a visit in Lithuania met today. They discussed security in the respective regions, military cooperation, defence industry, assistance to Ukraine, and other relevant topics.
“Lithuania and Japan are bound together by very concrete work which enhances our and our partners’ security. We are improving Ukraine’s capabilities through support to the Demining Coalition and organization of Ukraine’s EOD personnel training. Japan has also deployed four F-15J fighter jets with support aircraft this fall to complete missions in the United Kingdom and Germany. It is a demonstration of a clear recognition that our security environments are connected,” said Minister of National Defence D. Šakalienė.
Minister expressed a hope that the bilateral military and regional cooperation will continue being strengthened, especially in the areas of exchange and cyber security.
Lithuania and Japan are actively developing partnership through cyber dialogue and exchange in the area of military exercises. Japan also contributes to the activities of the Regional Cyber Defence Centre with regular cyber threat intelligence. Lithuania and Japan are also supporters of Ukraine’s demining capabilities.
In the discussion on defence industry D. Šakalienė presented Lithuania’s defence industrial production already tested on the battlefield in Ukraine and invited contacts with our defence industry companies. The discussed areas of cooperation included maritime defence s and anti-drone capabilities.
Photo credit: MoD / SSgt A. Čemerka
