The Ministry of National Defence hosted the U.S.-Baltic Strategic Dialogue this week bringing together in Lithuania high-ranking security and defence policy officials to discuss regional security and coordinate positions on further actions strengthening the Baltic security.
The Strategic Dialogue event addressed the security situation in both regions, European and the Indo-Pacific, the main focus being continued integrated deterrence in the Baltic region by strengthening the posture of U.S., NATO and national forces, operation planning and capability development.
“The U.S.-Baltic strategic talks highlight our mutual commitment to ensure security in the region against the changing challenges. We have a unanimous agreement about the need for a strong integrated deterrence strategy for the Baltic region. We aim to improve our combat capabilities in partnership with the United States, as well as to ensure a reliable posture of Allied forces,” said head of the Ministry of Defence Delegation, Defence Policy Director Vaidotas Urbelis.
Other participating delegations were led by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy Spencer Boyer, Deputy Director of the Office of Northern European, Baltic, and Arctic Security Affairs Daniel Mangis, Undersecretary for Defence Policy at the Estonian Ministry of Defence Tuuli Duneton, and Defence Policy Director at the Ministry of Defence of Latvia Rolands Heniņš.
The debate on the U.S. forces in the region and defence plans were attended by delegates of the U.S. Department of State and Defense and the Baltic Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives of the U.S. European Command, U.S. Joint Staff and the Baltic Defence Staffs.
Participants of the U.S.-Baltic Strategic Dialogue visited Camp Herkus at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training Area in Pabradė to familiarize with Lithuania’s infrastructure development plans. Lithuania prioritizes Host Nation Support projects and aims to offer the best possible conditions for the rotational U.S. troops on the ground.
The U.S.-Baltic Strategic Dialogue is an annual event. Next year it will be hosted by the U.S. Department of Defence.
Photo credit: MoD/ L. Tamošiūnas
