On January 16 Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas met with Lieutenant General Erhard Bühler (German Army), the Designated Commander Joint Force Command Brunssum (the Netherlands), conducting a three-day visit in Lithuania. Vice Minister and the guest discussed regional security, arsing threats, efforts to strengthen Lithuania’s defence, NAT’s deterrence and defence measures.
Vice Minister underscored that NATO deterrence in our region had become stronger because of the deployment of NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion in the Baltic states and Poland. However, the security situation in the region was not improving and the worst case scenario could not be ruled out.
“Our country seeks to deter, or in the case of necessity – defend itself alongside forces of NATO allies already deployed in Lithuania until NATO reinforcement arrives. We continue making investments to strengthen our armed forces,” Vice Minister of National Defence V. Umbrasas said.
He also pointed out that Lithuania was already allotting 2% of GDP for defence and that there was an agreement to increase it to 2.5% of GDP by 2030 which has the support of 41% of Lithuania’s population. According to V.Umbrasas, the increasing budget is used to strengthen national defence capabilities: enhance the Lithuanian Armed Forces and upgrade it with new equipment and weaponry, improve infrastructure, ensure that national and allies’ needs are met.
The Designated Commander Joint Force Command Brunssum (which is in charge of leading the allies’ response force on standby) also met with Chief of the Defence Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Maj Gen Vitalijus Vaikšnoras for a discussion if the security situation in the region, aspects of defence planning, and activities of NATO units deployed in Lithuania – the eFP Battle Group and the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU).
Lt Gen E. Buehler paid a visit to the NFIU in Vilnius and to Rukla where the NATO eFP Battle Group is based. He met with Col Mindaugas Steponavičius, Commander of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf into which the NATO eFP Battle Group is integrated, Commander of the NATO eFP Battle Group Lt Col Rene Braun, soldiers of the MIB Iron Wolf, viewed soldiers’ living conditions, equipment and weapons, was briefed of the activity of the Battle Group in Lithuania.
Joint Force Command Brunssum is in charge of leading NATO’s mission in Afghanistan Resolute Support and coordination of deterrence measures and readiness for defence. The current Commander of the Joint Force Command Brunssum is Gen Riccardo Marchio.
