“Latvia is one of the most important Lithuania’s partners in security and defence area and such meetings are very necessary in order to share best practices,” Vice minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas said at a meeting with State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Latvia Janis Garisons visiting Lithuania with a delegation on May 2-3.
Lithuania and Latvia are faced with the same security threats and since so, the countries’ unity is immensely important. At the meeting, both countries’ wish to ensure a constant exchange of information on the factors influencing changes in the security situation and on hybrid and information threats was discussed. The countries also coordinate defence policy framework and mutual interests in NATO and the European Union.
The meeting officials also addressed development of the joint Baltic projects, especially maritime awareness and the Baltic Air Surveillance Network and Control System (BALTNET), experience of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Groups in Lithuania and Latvia was shared, participation in the European Union Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) was discussed.
While in Lithuania State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Latvia J. Garisons paid a visit to the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (ENSECCOE) established in Vilnius in 2012. ENSECCOE Director Col Romualdas Petkevičius and J. Garisons discussed projects and studies carried by the Centre, analyses of the threat from the Astravyets Nuclear Power Plant being built in Belarus and synchronisation of the Baltic region electric grids, and exercise plans.
Later the Latvian delegation paid a visit to the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf of the Lithuanian Armed Forces in Rukla (Jonava region) and was briefed on the Brigade’s history, international cooperation projects and exercise calendar. The guests also familiarise with the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group based in Rukla and met with its Commander Lt Col Peer Papenbroock.
Security and defence cooperation of Lithuania and Latvia
Latvia is one of the most important partners to Lithuania in security and defence area, both countries have been developing it for several decades already.
Key goal of the Lithuanian-Latvian cooperation is to strengthen national capabilities, development of the Baltic projects and representation of mutual interests in NATO. Baltic projects, such as the Baltic Defence College, Baltic Air Surveillance Network and Control System and assignment of a joint Baltic military unit for standby in NATO units are also in active operation.
The Baltic countries organise and take part in joint exercises, deploy troops to take part in exercises in other NATO allies’ territories. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia coordinate closely with each other deployment of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Groups in the region, defence planning, and cooperate closely in strategic communication.
Another important priority of Baltic cooperation is simplification of procedures of deployment and movement of NATO forces in the region. On 15 February 2017 the Baltic Defence Ministers signed a joint communique defining simplification of deployment procedures.
Photo credits: Giedrė Maksimovicz (MoD), ENSECCOE, Lithuanian Armed Forces
