News

On May 11 and 12 Maj Gen Jonas Vytautas Žukas observed the most extensive military exercise planned in Estonia for 2012 "Spring Storm 2012" (Est. Kevadtorm 2012) which is on from May 3 to 19 in the north-east of Estonia.

During the visit Maj Gen J. V. Žukas met with Land Force Commanders of the Baltic States so he had an opportunity to share information on relevant matters in the Lithuanian Land Force and discuss cooperation underway. Land Force Commander of Estonia Col Indrek Sirel presented the aims, tasks and completion of the exercise "Spring Storm 2012", the command staff and reconnaissance battalion of the exercise.

The explosion occurred near a joint foot patrol of NATO's ISAF soldiers and local security forces.

On May 11 through 26 Lithuanian mine countermeasures ship “Kuršis” (M54) at the command of Lt Cdr Tadas Jablonskis takes part in the multinational naval mine detection and clearance exercise “Open Spirit 2012” held in the territorial waters of Estonia.

 Lithuanian warship “Kuršis” is involved in the exercise together with 18 warships and 4 diving teams from 11 countries: Belgium, Estonia, USA, Canada, Latvia, Poland, Norway, the Netherlands, France, Sweden and Germany.

On May Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius received a phone call from Chief of Defence of Latvia Maj Gen Raimonds Graube where Latvia's General thanked troops of the Aitvaras Squadron of the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces (LITHSOF) for a professional and committed fulfillment of duty in the south of Afghanistan and wished a speedy recovery and return to the line for the three Lithuanian peacekeepers injured in Afghanistan.

Troops of the Latvian Armed Forces have been involved in the activity of LITHSOF Aitvaras since November 2011.

From May 4 to 9 international military exercise Baltic Fortress 2012 takes place off the Baltic coast. The maritime military training event includes five Lithuanian and two Latvian war ships and attendees of the Baltic States Naval Staff Officer Course from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia who will graduate with this exercise.

Ships of the Baltic Mine Countermeasures Squadron (BALTRON) along with the Squadron's staff also take part in the exercise.

On April 25 and 26 NATO and NATO partner states' CHODs met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in a NATO Military Committee session and discussed NATO future priories and challenges.

At the meeting perspectives of the NATO operations underway, including NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, were addressed. NATO Strategic Plan in Afghanistan was discussed in the presence of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) partners, ISAF Commander Gen John R. Allen via teleconference presented relevant points of the operation. NATO CHODs focused, too, considerably on other military operations of the Alliance in Afghanistan, Kosovo, NATO counter-piracy and counter-terrorism operations and discussed the experience from the NATO operation in Libya.
Lithuanian Chief of Defence also participated in the NATO-Russia and NATO-Ukraine's meetings where the discussion focused on bilateral defence relations with the allies and in the Baltic Region.

Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard Maj Gen Wesley E. Craig extended condolences over the loss of life of a Lithuanian EOD specialist Sgt 1st Class Laimonas Blėdis to the leadership of the Lithuanian National Defence System.

"We mourn with you the loss of this brave Soldier and pray for the health and recovery of the injured Soldier," say the letters of condolence to Chief of Defence Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius and Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Rasa Juknevičienė.

The deployment ceremony will be attended by Vice Minister of National Defence Mykolas Juozapavičius, Commander of the Lithuanian Land Force Maj Gen Jonas Vytautas Žukas, ambassadors of foreign countries, leadership of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the Mechanized Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf and units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, troops, authorities of Alytus City and district, and families of the troops.

"It was a real example of cooperative work, joint agreements were reached to all the agenda points," described the results of the meeting Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen A. Pocius. Lithuanian CHOD expressed his delight that an agreement regarding a vital international project - the vision of the future development of the joint Baltic Naval Squadron BALTRON - had been reached.

April 19-20 in Tukum, Latvia, Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) of the Baltic States will take place with attendance of Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius, Chief of Defence of Lithuania, Maj Gen Raimonds Graube, Chief of Defence of Latvia, and Brig Gen Riho Terras, Chief of Defence of Estonia.

The principal attention will be paid to the Baltic defence cooperation. Baltic CHODs are expected to discuss the input of the Baltic States into NATO and EU military projects, development of the Baltic Defence College and military personnel training points. The trilateral projects underway - the Baltic Naval Squadron (BALTRON), and the Baltic Air Surveillance Network (BALTNET), joint Baltic military exercises in the Baltic training areas, and conduct of the NATO's Air Policing mission will be addressed.