Defence
Defence
Defence
US will maintain long-term military presence in Lithuania, ambassador reassures
On 3 December, Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas discussed his recent visit in the US, assistance to Ukraine, participation in multinational operations and other security and defence issues at a meeting with Ambassador of the United States in Lithuania Deborah A. McCarthy, the Ministry of National Defence reports. […]
Defence
Transparency International says ‘moderate’ risk of corruption in Lithuania’s defence sector
Transparency International has published the Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index revealing that primary anti-corruption challenges for Lithuania’s defence and security sector are related to internal procedures and procurement. […]
Defence
NATO must be ready to respond to threats irrespective of their source, Linkevičius says
NATO must be ready to effectively respond to threats irrespective of their source, says Lithuania’s Linas Linkevičius at a meeting of foreign affairs ministers of NATO countries. […]
Defence
Interior minister promises radical changes in Public Security Service
The Public Security Service will be fundamentally transformed, Interior Minister Saulius Skvernelis said after serious problems within the institution were raised publicly. There should be no officers disloyal to the state left and suspected embezzlement of funds will be investigated by law enforcement, he said. […]
Defence
Lithuanian defence policy director: We have created a security club
Defence Minister Juozas Olekas has signed an agreement in London, establishing the Joint Expeditionary Force. Defence Policy Director at the Ministry of National Defence Vaidotas Urbelis says that the seven states that signed the agreement share a similar view on security and will be able to decide how to react to conflicts on their own. […]
Defence
VSD head: No need to raise terrorism threat level in Lithuania
There is no need to announce a higher level of terrorism threat in Lithuania, because the State Security Department (VSD) is working to monitor the situation in the country and cooperating with foreign partners, the head of the State Security Department, Darius Jauniškis, told the LRT programme Savaitė. […]
Defence
US defence expert: Threats to Baltics are very real
The threat of a hybrid war in Lithuania is real, it is Russia‘s strategy for the post-Soviet area and Lithuania needs to strengthen its defence system and host allied soldiers in the country to deter Russia, according to the US military analyst and the president of Jamestown Foundation Glen Howard. […]
Defence
General Breedlove assures he has good understanding of threats faced by Baltics
General Philip Breedlove, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and Commander of US European Command, paid a short visit to Lithuania and said he has good understanding of the security situation in the Baltics. The general promised to do everything in his power to guarantee an appropriate response to any threat faced by a member state of NATO. […]
Defence
Lithuanian army to choose among three IFV purchase options, defence minister says
Lithuania’s National Defence Minister Juozas Olekas says that the army’s decision which infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to purchase will depend on several factors, such as safety, power, prices, and delivery time. […]
Defence
Lithuania commemorated army day
Lithuanian military day and the 97th anniversary of the restoration of the Lithuanian army was commemorated on Monday. […]
Defence
Lithuanian defence minister invites Canada to continue contributing to assurance measures in Baltics
On 20 November, Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas met with Minister of National Defence of Canada Harjit Sajjan while attending the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, the Lithuanian ministry reports. […]
Defence
Defence
US to maintain troops in Lithuania
While on a formal visit in the United States, Lithuania’s Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas met with US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter on 17 November in Washington, Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence reports. […]
Defence
NATO jets scrambled once to intercept Russian military aircraft
On 9-15 November, fighter aircraft of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic States performed one A-Scramble to intercept a foreign aircraft in international airspace above the Baltic Sea, the Ministry of National Defence reports. […]
Defence
Lithuania’s VSD proposes to establish crisis management centre to coordinate terrorism response
Head of the State Security Department (VSD) Darius Jauniškis says the Lithuanian Government should consider creating a crisis management centre which would adequately respond to terrorist attacks. […]
Defence
Extra security measures at Lithuania’s borders
After Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris, Lithuania has taken additional measures at border crossing points, including more thorough inspections of people and vehicles. […]
Defence
Lithuania could accept 6,000-8,000 NATO troops without logistics problems, defence minister says
According to Lithuania’s National Defence Minister Juozas Olekas, Lithuania at the moment would be ready to accept 6,000-8,000 NATO troops without any major logistical issues. […]
Defence
Military conscription pushed up emigration from Lithuania, PM says
Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says that youth emigration from the country could have been pushed up by the reinstalled compulsory military service. […]
Defence
Five military exercises planned in Lithuania in November
Five national and international military exercises are planned in Lithuania in November. Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas, the Chief of Defence of Lithuania, says that these exercises, which involve thousands of soldiers and considerable military equipment, do not only show Lithuania‘s preparedness to defend itself, but also NATO‘s attention to collective defence in Eastern Europe. […]