July 13, U.S. rotational forces in Lithuania carried out a military equipment unloading operation in Klaipėda Seaport. Roughly 300 items of wheeled and tracked military equipment and weaponry of the 1st Infantry Division, including Abrams battle tanks and Bradley armored vehicles, were brought aboard US Liberty Peace vehicle carrier.
The logistical operation is an example of steadfast cooperation between the U.S. and the Lithuanian Armed Forces and a demonstration of seamless conduct of logistical and transportation operations in support of the U.S. Army Europe Operation Atlantic Resolve.
The American forces are training in Lithuania as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve in the eastern part of the Alliance. It demonstrated the U.S. collective defence commitments to NATO allies in ensuring security in Europe. U.S. Army capabilities have been training in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe in rotations since 2014.
Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, U.S. Army, were training in Lithuania from the beginning of 2021. Today they were replaced by colleagues from the 1st Infantry Division based at Fort Riley, Kansas.
The United States actively contributes troops, equipment and finance to the defence of our region. Financial assistance is rendered annually under the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) for strengthening European, including Lithuanian, defence capabilities and developing military infrastructure. The United States is also one of the major partners in weaponry acquisition.
Photo credit: Sgt 1st Class A. Vitkauskas.
