October 6, the Baltic Naval Committee (BNC), constituted of the Baltic Navies’ Commanders, held the 71st meeting in Klaipėda. The event was organized by the Lithuanian Navy.
Commander of the Lithuanian Navy Captain (Navy) Tadas Jablonskis, Commander of the Latvian Navy Rear Admiral Maris Polencs, and Commander of the Estonian Navy Rear Admiral Ivo Värk, with respective military delegations, met at the Lithuanian Navy Headquarters. They discussed core regional security themes, directions of strengthening cooperation and plans of joint maritime capability development.
The BNC addressed the security situation in the Baltic Sea in detail, as well as the Baltic states’ Navy vision foreseeing further development of joint maritime capabilities and organisation of joint procurement, alongside with strengthening maritime surveillance in the region, joint plans and way ahead for BALTRON, and commitments to NATO and EU military operations.
“Tightening the Baltic naval cooperation is critical not just for responding to arising threats but also for coordination of different forms of deterrence to achieve regional security more effectively,” Commander Lithuanian Navy Capt (N) Tadas Jablonskis
The Baltic Naval Committee (BNC) is a regular military cooperation platform of the Navy Commanders of the three Baltic states. The meetings are held routinely in order to ensure coordination of activities in the Baltic Sea region, share best practices and strengthen integration in the maritime NATO and EU formats.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia formed the Baltic Naval Squadron BALTRON in 1998 as part of developing Baltic military cooperation. Its mission is to support the Baltic regional security, mitigate the hazard of naval mines in the Baltic territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, increase the ability to conduct joint action and cooperate with other NATO military units.
Estonia withdrew from BALTRON in 2015 but still contributes to individual BALTRON events and exercises further conducted by Lithuania and Latvia.
The Baltic Navies annually conduct large-scale Exercise Baltic Fortress with participation of numerous other NATO Allies.
Besides BALTRON, the Baltic Allies conduct other international cooperation formats they had established, for example, the Communications Specialist Training Centre in Estonia, Diving Training Centre, Mine Warfare Training and Equipment Maintenance Centre and the Baltic Naval Intermediate Command and Staff Course in Latvia.
Info and photo credits: Lithuanian Navy
