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defence
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Amid Crisis, Belarus re-examines its political and security situation
Belarus will host the latest round of talks between Ukraine and Russia in Minsk on 1 August as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko continues to push his country as a mediator in the crisis. Lukashenko’s motivation is not altruistic, however, as Belarus is not immune to the competition between Russia and the West over the strategic borderland countries of the former Soviet periphery. […]
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Russia-NATO: No “business as usual”
On 22 July, President Vladimir Putin addressed the Russian Security Council and effectively declared the demise of cooperation between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Putin covered issues linked to the crisis in Ukraine, rejected Western allegations of Russia’s de facto involvement in the downing of Flight MH17, and then turned to security challenges stemming from NATO. […]
Defence
NATO mine counter-measures group ships arrive in Klaipėda
A German warship FGS Elbe, which heads the Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group ONE (SNMCMG1), docked at the Lithuanian port city of Klaipėda on Friday along with the Lithuanian naval ship Kursis (M54). […]
Defence
Government approves State Mobilization Plan
Lithuania’s government formally approved the State Mobilization Plan this week, the Defence Ministry said. […]
Defence
Germany does not approve of NATO’s military expansion to Poland and Baltic States
The German government does not approve of Poland’s and Baltic States’ request to expand NATO military presence in Eastern European countries, writes Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. […]
Defence
British MPs call for deployment of NATO troops in Baltics
British lawmakers are calling for the deployment of NATO troops and military equipment in the Baltic states in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. […]
Defence
Lithuanian and US soldiers brushed up skydiving skills in Pabradė
Soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade’s 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment and the Lithuanian Land Force brushed up their skills Tuesday at a parachute training event at the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Range in Pabradė, the Ministry of National Defence informs. […]
Defence
Defence
Lithuanian-French defence cooperation in spotlight during defence attaché changeover ceremony in Vilnius
Lithuania’s Deputy Minister of National Defence Antanas Valys on Monday presented the National Defence System Medal of Merit to the outgoing French Defence Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Jean-Luc Lopez for his personal contribution to the development of cooperation between the French and the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The officer was representing the interest of the French Armed Forces in Lithuania since August 2011, the Ministry of National Defence says. […]
Defence
Grybauskaitė pledges to monitor defence spending closely
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has pledged to monitor whether additional funds recently allocated to national defence are spent transparently and effectively. […]
Defence
Lithuania’s new chief of defence sworn into office
President Dalia Grybauskaitė has inaugurated the new Chief of Defence Major General Jonas Vytautas Žukas during a formal change of command ceremony on Thursday in the Cathedral Square, Vilnius. […]
Defence
Senior presidential aide appointed to head Lithuania’s State Defence Council
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has appointed her senior adviser Valdemaras Sarapinas as the head of the State Defence Council. […]
Defence
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Defence
Lithuanian rotation actively preparing for standby for EU Battlegroup next year
Fifty members of the Grand Duchess Birutė Uhlan Battalion are continuing training for a standby for the European Union Nordic Battlegroup (EU BG) in the first semester of 2015 which is going to be formed by Ireland, Estonia, Latvia, Norway, Finland, and Sweden, the Ministry of National Defence informs. […]
Defence
Opinion
Opinion: Vilnius increases defence spending in face of disappointing responses from Western Europe
The Lithuanian parliament on July 10 adopted budget amendments to increase spending on national defense by 37.6 million euros. The decision, which was predicted by Stratfor, passed with the support of the government and the opposition and was praised by the American Embassy in Lithuania. With this measure, Lithuania will take its military spending closer to 1 percent of gross domestic product – a mark still well below NATO’s official target of 2 percent. […]
Defence
Would 2 percent GDP protect Lithuania from Russian aggression?
Some experts call the current tensions between Russia and the West the new Cold War. Meanwhile, NATO countries, especially the ones that are on the outskirts of the Alliance, are concerned about the lack of funding for defence. Would two per cent of the GDP, in the face of Russian aggression, be enough to repel the fully armed eastern neighbour, should the need arise? […]
Defence
Lithuanian parliament allocates additional 130 million for national defence
The Seimas of Lithuania adopted budget amendments which allow to increase spending on national defence by LTL 130 million (EUR 37.6 million). 100 MPs voted in favour of the proposal, none voted against and 2 abstained. […]