On April 19-20 Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas took part in meeting in Tapa, Estonia, where Baltic Chiefs of Defence discussed regional security and defence cooperation.
Lt Gen J. V. Žukas of Lithuania, Chief of Defence of Estonia Lieutenant General Riho Terras, and Chief of Defence of Latvia Lieutenant General Raimonds Graube, as Baltic Military Committee, discussed current security situation, Baltic cooperation, and further development of tri-national projects.
"We have agreed unanimously to enhance Baltic interoperability by means of joint exercises, to carry on with the Baltic tri-national projects, and to step up the defensive power of the Baltic region," Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas said after the meeting.
The Baltic Military Committee approved the Action Plan 2017 for the Baltic Naval Squadron BALTRON and deployment of BALTRON ships in 2017-2019. Further development of the Baltic Air Surveillance and Control Network BALTNET and personnel organisation were addressed and BALTNET budget for 2017 was approved. It was agreed to continue the project of the tri-national Baltic Battalion BALTFOR under the lead of Latvia. Activities of the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL) were reviewed and Development Plan for 2017-2025 was approved.
The Baltic Military Committee used to meet on a rotational basis in one of the Baltic States every six months. As of this year, the meetings become annual. The previous meeting was in Palanga, Lithuania, last April.
Credits: the Estonian Defence Forces
Acting Spokesperson for the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Captain Donatas Suchockis
