Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas met with acting Adjutant General of Pennsylvania Brigadier General John Pippy conducting a visit to Lithuania. Minister underscored at the visit that a strong U.S. leadership was the foundation of Euro-Atlantic security.
“The Pennsylvania National Guard has been with Lithuania since the reestablishment of independence. We highly appreciate your long-standing friendship and assistance which has helped us grow,” said Minister L. Kasčiūnas.
Over the past four years Lithuania’s partnership with the PANG has especially accelerated in the area of cyber security and defence. The Regional Cyber Defence Centre was co-established by Lithuania and the United States, the PANG contributes to the Amber Mist series of exercise. Minister and the new Adjutant-General of Pennsylvania agreed to strengthen the mutual cooperation, look for options to work together not just on security and defence but also advance potential ties between Lithuania’s and Pennsylvania’ defence and technology industry.
The Pennsylvania National Guard is one of the largest and oldest guards in the U.S. defence system Lithuania has a longstanding close partnership with. Lithuania and the PANG have been engaging through the ambitious State Partnership Program for over 30 years, the PANG It has been rendering every kind of support to the National Defence Volunteer Force, training Lithuanian instructors and attending various joint exercises.
Among the priority areas of cooperation with the Pennsylvania National Guard are training UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilots and maintenance specialists for the Lithuanian Armed Forces, training in joint exercises, cyber security cooperation and development of the Lithuanian division staff.
Lithuania and Pennsylvania are bound together by shared history: in 1919 PANG Lieutenant Samuel J. Harris with other 19 U.S. officers arrived in Lithuania to lend a hand in the Independence Fights and perished in a year. A street in Aleksotas district in Kaunas is named in his honor.
Photo credit: SSgt A. Čemerka / MoD.
