January 31, Vice Minister of National Defence Margiris Abukevičius met with Ambassador of Israel to Lithuania HE Yossef Levy to discuss regional security and opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
“The aggressive and unpredictable Russian stance aims to cause divisions among allies and partners. All the NATO allies agree on the fundamental principles and positions and the necessity to strengthen deterrence in the face of the Russian demands,” said M. Abukevičius meeting the Ambassador. The Ambassador responded by presenting his view on the current security environment in the region.
Y. Levy also expressed his delight about the Lithuanian participation in security conferences in Israel. The shared Lithuanian and Israeli will to strengthen contacts in the area of cybersecurity was also among the topics discussed at the meeting.
“We wish to enhance the bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Israel. We already have good contacts in the area of cybersecurity and we can see the potential to develop them further in the future,” Vice Minister said.
Other potential bilateral cooperation areas and the progress on the acquisition of the Vilkas IFVs were discussed too. The Vilkas IFVs of the Lithuanian Armed Forces have integrated Israeli-made Spike antitank systems, for the first time tested just recently, January 14 –18, at a Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanized Infantry Battalion live-fire exercise.
Photo credit: MoD/A.Pliadis.
