May 25, Vice Minister of National Defence Vilius Semeška with Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Valdemaras Rupšys visited the Mechanized Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf to meet with allied troops of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group and learn about the passage of international Exercise Iron Wolf 2021 I. Vice Minister called the international exercise held by the Lithuanian Armed Forces with Lithuania’s allies on May 19–31 a factor that strengthened the deterrence.
“The NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group reflects NATO solidarity and resolve to defend its allies. The Alliance forces in Lithuania contribute to peace and prevent any potential aggression by supporting deterrence based on military capabilities and readiness maintained by persistent exercises,” Vice Minister V. Semeška said.
Exercise Iron Wolf 2021 I is held to maintain readiness of the Mechanized Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf and subordinate battalions and to certify interoperability of Brigade units with the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group (deployed in Rukla, Jonava region) and the Brigade command, as well as the readiness to complete tasks together.
The focus certification audience this year is the NATO eFP Battalion Battle Group, Duke Vaidotas Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Logistical Support Battalion, and the Reconnaissance Company of the Mechanized Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf.
Exercise participants will showcase their readiness to complete military operations, share best practices in international environment, complete logistical operations, and will further hone interoperability among NATO allies.
“The exercise is also an opportunity to assess the readiness of our military equipment and infrastructure. We are making the effort to ensure that our allies have excellent deployment and training conditions in Lithuania. That is critical for increasing interoperability between Lithuanian and Allied forces and ensuring peace and stability in the country by joint effort,” says V. Semeška.
Deployed in Lithuania since February 2017, the NATO eFP Battle Group has already rotated in over 12 thousand troops to train. Germany is the framework nation of the NATO eFP BG Lithuania.
Field training and certification exercise Iron Wolf 2021 I not only certifies the cooperation between the NATO unit deployed in Rukla and the Lithuanian Armed Forces but also the end of the 9th NATO eFP BG Lithuania rotation. When the exercise wraps, the 9th rotation will redeploy home and the 10th rotation will come in.
