On March 19 Chief of Defence of Denmark General Peter Bartram conducting a formal visit in Lithuania met with Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Juozas Olekas, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Arvydas Pocius and other representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and discussed bilateral defence cooperation between Lithuania and Denmark, multilateral defence cooperation, NATO's Air Policing mission in the Baltic States, contributions to multinational operations, regional training events, and other issues.
The Chief of Defence of the Kingdom of Denmark is conducting the two-day visit in Lithuania by invitation of Lithuania's Chief of Defence.
"Denmark is one of the most valued Lithuania's partners. There has been ongoing defence cooperation between our countries for nearly two decades. Lithuanian military personnel were deployed to their first multinational operation together with Danish troops in the Balkans, Denmark has also rendered critical support on Lithuania's way to NATO integration. Denmark has also deployed its air contingent to carry out the Baltic Air Policing mission for the fourth time, and served along with Lithuanians in Chaghcharan Provincial Reconstruction Team", said Minister Olekas at the meeting.
The Minister and General Bartram discussed participation of their countries' military personnel in multinational operations as well as possible scenarios after the completion of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation in 2014. Minister Olekas presented to the guest Lithuania's contributions to the European Union-led multinational operations. From the second half of 2013 an Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) comprising approximately 20 Lithuanian troops will be deployed to the counter-piracy operation ATALANTA off the Somali coast. Two military instructors who have undergone training with their colleagues from Sweden and Finland are expected to be deployed to the EU-led Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali).
The Minister underlined the importance of the NATO Connected Forces Initiative when conducting joint exercises and maintaining the capacity of military interoperability among the allies in the times of budget austerity.
Furthermore, cyber and energy security topics of relevance to both countries were addressed at the meeting. Minister Olekas informed General Bartram about Lithuania's intention to learn from Denmark's experience in the areas of energy efficiency, eco-friendly infrastructure and military initiatives.
At the end of the meeting the Minister and Denmark's Chief of Defence had a brief discussion over the upcoming visit of the Minister of Defence of Denmark in Lithuania which is scheduled to take place early in April.
Lithuania's and Denmark's Chiefs of Defence disputed the following topics: contribution of the Danish Royal Air Force to the NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic States and Denmark's input into the military training process at the Baltic Defence College (BALTDEFCOL), the future of integrated Danish-Lithuanian military units and modernisation of weaponry Denmark had transferred to Lithuania. National experience in weaponry acquisition was also addressed.
History of Lithuanian-Danish cooperation spans nearly two decades. Since 1994, when Lithuania began sending its forces to peacekeeping operations, over a thousand of Lithuanian military have been trained for deployment with support of the Danish Armed Forces. Lithuanian troops served in multinational operations in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq in composition of the Danish Contingent. Denmark also contributed military personnel to the Lithuanian-led Provincial Reconstruction Team of Ghor province, Afghanistan.
Denmark renders assistance to Lithuania in the areas of military training and joint military exercises on a permanent basis. The country has also provided support in training and equipping the Artillery Battalion of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The Mechanised Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf of the Lithuanian Armed Forces has been affiliated to the Danish Division (Danish Army) on the basis of the bilateral LITBRIG project since 2006. Through that, Lithuanian military have been able to attend NATO's exercises and training events in composition of the Division.
At the moment an Air Contingent and aircraft of the Royal Danish Air Force are exercising the Baltic Air Policing mission from the Šiauliai Air Base of the Lithuanian Air Force. Including the current shift, Denmark has manned the mission for four times already.
POC: Spokesperson to the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Capt Skomantas Povilionis, cell phone 00370 682 25359
Photos by A. Pliadis.
