On September 27-28 Permanent Representatives to the North Atlantic Council of the countries contributing troops to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania and from other allies paid a visit to Lithuania.
Representatives of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, France and Germany met with Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis. The Minister and the Ambassadors discussed regional security and relevant NATO issues over a working dinner. The Minister thanked for troop contributions to the NATO Battalion, a unit which has become an inseparable element of our deterrence and defence, as well as for the unity and solidarity in assisting to ensure regional security.
During the visit the Ambassadors met with Chief of the Defence Staff Brig Gen Gintautas Zenkevičius and officers of the NATO Force Integration Unit at the Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The extensive visit programme included the guest delegation’s meetings with the Prime Minister, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a visit to the National Cyber Security Centre and the Military Academy of Lithuania.
The Ambassadors’ visit will wrap with a visit to the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf in Rukla and a meeting with its leadership and NATO eFP soldiers based there.
Over 8 thousand troops from 9 NATO allies have already rotated in to the NATO eFP Battalion Battle Group Lithuania over more than two years.
Soldiers of the NATO eFP Battalion Battle Group Lithuania constantly and actively train and take part in all major exercises in Lithuania during the deployment. The multinational unit has settled and established itself over the two years of presence in Lithuania: NATO allies started excellent relations with our soldiers, as well as with local communities, schools, municipal administrations. They participate actively in various cultural and social projects, commemorations of historical and state holidays of Lithuania. According to a public opinion poll, 76% of respondents believe that the NATO presence helps to deter hostile states.
The NATO eFP Battalion Battle Group Lithuania is a direct response to aggressive provocative actions of Russia in the vicinity of NATO borders which have led to deterioration of stability and security and predictability of the security situation, and changes in the security environment. The decision to deploy NATO eFP Battalion Battle Groups along the eastern NATO border was taken in July 2016 at the NATO Summit in Warsaw by request of the Baltic States and Poland.
Photo credits (by Sgt Aurelija Vosylė): the guests visiting the Defence Staff and the NATO Force Integration Unit in Vilnius.
(by Virginijus Stonys): the guests visiting the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf in Rukla in order to meet with the Brigade leadership and NATO eFP soldiers deployed there.
