Defence
Europe must update its security strategy, Lithuanian defence minister says
The European security strategy does not reflect today’s realities and must be updated, says Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas. […]
Defence
Defence
Lithuania wants to buy self-propelled howitzers from Germany
During the European Union Defence Ministers’ meeting in Riga, Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas presented his German colleagues with Lithuania’s proposal regarding purchase of self-propelled artillery systems. […]
Defence
Lithuanian PM sceptical about British defence secretary’s warnings of Russian aggression
Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says he does not believe that Moscow could use the same methods it used in Ukraine to destabilize situation in the Baltic states. His comments come after British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon warned about the danger that Russia might pose to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. […]
Defence
NATO fighter jets take off 4 times over Baltic states last week
Between 9 February and 16 February, NATO air policing fighter aircraft patrolling the Baltic airspace were scrambled four times to intercept aircraft flying along the route between Mainland Russia and the Kaliningrad Oblast in international airspace near the borders of the Baltic states, Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence said. […]
Defence
Defence
Defence
Baltics to host Saber Strike 2015 military exercises
Troops from nine NATO countries took part in the main planning conference of the Saber Strike 2015 multinational exercises at the General Adolfas Ramanauskas Warfare Training Centre in Nemenčine on February 10-13. […]
Defence
Lithuanian parliament to consider privatisation of arms factory
Rasa Juknevičienė and Arvydas Anušauskas, conservative members of parliament, have addressed Chairman of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence Artūras Paulauskas asking to include in the agenda of the nearest meeting the issue of privatisation of arms factory Giraitės Ginkluotės Gamykla. […]
Defence
Lithuania and US agree to sign new defence cooperation pact
The United States and Lithuania have agreed to sign a new agreement on defence cooperation as early as this year, Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence said on Thursday. […]
Defence
Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade might hold first exercises in autumn
The Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian joint military brigade, currently being established, might hold the first joint military exercises in the coming autumn, Polish Defence Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said in Vilnius on Wednesday. […]
Defence
President Grybauskaitė calls for more US presence in Lithuania as she sends off new NATO ambassador
Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė says that the country should seek stronger US and NATO presence in Lithuania and closer NATO ties with Ukraine. […]
Defence
Lithuanian armed forces to expand by 450 soldiers annually
The Lithuanian army will expand its forces by 450 troops every year, the country’s Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas said on Monday, presenting activity guidelines for the coming six years. […]
Defence
Defence
NATO fighter-jets scrambled twice to escort Russian airplanes last week
NATO fighter-jets deployed in Lithuania on the NATO Baltic air policing mission were scrambled twice last week to intercept aircraft that had entered the policed area, the Ministry of National Defence said. […]
Defence
Italian fighter-jets to stay in Lithuania longer for Baltic air policing mission
Italy, which is serving its first shift in NATO‘s Baltic air policing mission, will leave its fighter-jets in Lithuania longer than planned, while Belgium and Portugal will this year send their troops for training, Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas said. […]
Defence
Lithuania’s Defence Ministry concludes cooperation agreement with Defence and Security Industries Association
The Ministry of National Defence signed an agreement with the Lithuanian Defence and Security Industries Association. Based on the agreement, institutions of the national defence system and enterprises of the defence and security industry will strive for tighter cooperation. […]
Defence
Defence
Former NATO secretary general: Russia may use “hybrid war” methods in Baltics to test NATO solidarity
Russia‘s President Vladimir Putin may “mastermind a hybrid attack on a Baltic state to test whether NATO would mobilise,” NATO’s former chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has warned. […]
Defence
Defence
NATO rapid response force to expand to 30,000 troops
NATO is expanding its rapid response force from 13,000 to 30,000 troops, including a spearhead force of 5,000 soldiers, some of whom could be deployed within “a few days,” alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg says. […]