Chief of Defence of the Republic of Italy Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone in conducting a formal visit to Lithuania. He has met with Chief of Defence Gen Valdemaras Rupšys to discuss the security situation of the Baltic states and defence plans, the Rotational NATO Air Defence Model, capability development, plans for improving infrastructure at the Lithuanian Air Force Base and capacity to host F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft, and the unceasing assistance to Ukraine.
“I have invited Italy to test air defence elements in interaction with the Lithuanian Armed Forces at Exercise Iron Wolf, Strong Griffin next year, as well as in other combat readiness training of our and Allied troops,” noted Chief of Defence.
The Lithuanian Armed Forces joined EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia in the Mediterranean in 2015 based on the security situation and challenges in the region. The operational mission was later inherited by Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI for tackling illegal migration from Africa to Europe and enforcement of the UN arms embargo on Libya. Lithuanian contribution to other multinational operations in the Mediterranean were also addressed.
Italy first deployed capabilities to execute the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states in 2015. It was flown from the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai. The most prominent example of the Lithuanian-Italian defence cooperation is the acquisition contract with an Italian company on three C-27J Spartan signed in 2006. The equipment has put to many national tasks since. Cooperation with the Italian Air Force also covers training of Lithuanian Air Force pilots, Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, ensuring logistical support to the Spartan aircraft.
Military contacts are maintained across more areas as well. The Italian Navy trains specialists for the Lithuanian Navy, Italy maintains a high-ranking officer to the NATO Force Integration Unit in Vilnius and contributes to the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence.
Italy consistently contributes to the security of the Baltic region with troops to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Latvia. It currently includes two hundred sixty infantry and other specialists of the Italian Armed Forces. Over a thousand Italian troops serve in other Eastern member states of NATO too – Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary.
Photo credits: Sgt Spc Tomas Kavaliauskas, SSgt Arnas Čemerka.
