On July 23 acting Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas discussed regional security issues, effectiveness of the present deterrence measures, and military mobility at a meeting with U.S. Army Europe Deputy Commanding General for Army National Guard Major General Joseph Jarrard conducting a visit to Lithuania. Acting Vice Minister V. Umbrasas underscored the security challenges Lithuania and the entire region were facing and the importance of the presence of U.S. forces for ensuring security.
“The United States has the key role in ensuring security of the Baltic Sea region. We welcome the U.S. decision to deploy additional forces to Poland, however, it has to encompass the other Baltic states as well,” acting Vice Minister Vytautas Umbrasas stressed.
Maj Gen J. Jerrard praised the strong and long-standing relationship of Lithuania and the United States and the mutual effort to strengthen the security of the Baltic region. According to the General, Lithuania has made huge progress in strengthening its defence capabilities and the United States would continue contributing to support the effort.
“The U.S. plans to be present in the region for training and exercises more significantly and more often. Lithuania’s effort to ensure every condition for the presence of the allied forces in the country is highly appreciated and it enables the U.S. forces to be deployed more frequently,” Maj Gen J. Jerrard said.
The meeting also addressed the cooperation between the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the U.S. Pennsylvania Army National Guard (PANG) which has been significantly strengthened in the recent years. Acting Vice Minister V. Umbrasas underscored that the cooperation with PANG was fruitful and bilaterally beneficial. He also said that “our priority is an active participation of the U.S., including PANG, forces and capabilities in the exercises in the region. We hope to continue building on our partnership with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard through deployment to joint exercises, conduct of training, implementation of infrastructure upgrading, and development of new areas of cooperation.”
Maj Gen J. Jarrard is visiting Lithuania on July 22–24. It is his first visit to Lithuania in the current capacity. The guest will be meeting with leadership of the Lithuanian Land Force and the Training and Doctrine Command.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard cooperate under the State Partnership Program (SPP) for 25 years now. The 25th anniversary of signing the cooperation agreement with PANG in 1993 was marked on 27 April 2018. It was celebrated in Vilnius in June 2018 with a formal reception and a parade in Lukiškės Square. In June earlier this year a group of soldiers of the Lithuanian Land Force took part in Exercise Decisive Strike 2019 in North Macedonia assigned to PANG. The Pennsylvania Army National Guard is proud of the cooperation with the Lithuanian Armed Forces and considers it the role-model among all SPP cooperatons. The intense cooperation with the Lithuanian Armed Forces continues through qualitative contributions to its combat training.
The U.S. commitments to regional security, military presence and visibility in Lithuania and the region is one of the cornerstone guarantees of security and stability of Lithuania. The U.S. is implementing wide deterrence measures in the Baltic region bilaterally and in support of NATO framework. The U.S. was the first ally to deploy air defence reinforcement — additional fighter aircraft and forces for persistent presence in the Baltic states — when the security situation deteriorated in the region and Europe in spring 2014. U.S. troops are taking part in military exercises and other events of military cooperation in Lithuania. The U.S. also leads the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Poland as part of the efforts to strengthen the eastern borer of the Alliance.
The defence cooperation of Lithuania and the United States in defence area intensified after signing a cooperation agreement in January 2017. The contract reiterated both countries’ commitment to work together on a stronger NATO alliance, better European security, and the fight with global security threats.
Photo credits: Giedrė Maksimovicz (MoD)
