On November 14-15 Chief of Defence of the Kingdom of Norway Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen was visiting soldiers of the Norwegian Armed Forces serving as part of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania and met with Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas.
"Admiral H. Brunn-Hanssen was satisfied with the service conditions Norwegian troops have in Rukla and their opportunities to train in composition of both, the NATO eFP Battle Group and the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf. He was also positively impressed with the combat training infrastructure available," Lt Gen J. V. Žukas said after the meeting.
The Chiefs of Defence also discussed the regional security situation and aspects of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and exchanged views on the NATO Command Structure.
Yesterday the Norwegian Chief of Defence visited the soldiers of Norway training at General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area in Pabradė as part of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Group in Lithuania. He also viewed the Urban Warfare Training Facility in the training area and observed an urban warfare operation conducted by the Norwegian soldiers. Then Admiral H. Bruun-Hanssen's delegation proceeded to Rukla to meet with Commander of the Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf Colonel Mindaugas Steponavičius and the Commander of the eFP Battle Group integrated into the Brigade, Lieutenant General Thorsten Gensler, and with the command and soldiers of the Norwegian detachment.
Over 150 soldiers with Brigade Nord and the Telemark Battalion of the Norwegian Armed Forces have been serving in the eFP in Lithuania since the middle of this year.
The NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group deployed in Rukla for deterrence and collective defence as of the beginning of this year includes over 1,000 soldiers and is led by Germany. Apart from Germany and Norway, soldiers training as p[art of the eFP this year have been deployed by Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
Photo credits: SSgt E. Ponomariovas and A. Pliadis
Spokesperson for the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Major Mindaugas Neimontas
Contacts: (+370 5) 278 5091, +370 682 25359, mindaugas.neimontas@mil.lt
