On June 18 Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas is going on a formal visit to Germany. On June 19 he will meet with Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr General Volker Wieker, members of the German Military Association.
Lithuanian and German Chiefs of Defence are expected to discuss aspects of service in the NATO enhanced forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania and of using it in case of a military conflict. Among other topics to be addressed is procurement projects by which the Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania is acquiring Boxer IFVs and PzH2000 self-propelled artillery systems from the Federal Ministry of Defence.
Generals are also expected to talk about cooperation between the two countries' navies. Such formats as Baltic maritime conferences, participation in the European Union Naval Force - Operation SOPHIA in the Mediterranean and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali - Operation MINUSMA are expected to be reviewed for cooperation possibilities.
Lt Gen J. V. Žukas is expected to return to Lithuania on June 20.
Spokesperson for the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Major Mindaugas Neimontas
Tel. (00370 5) 278 5091, mob. 00370 682 25359, e-mail: mindaugas.neimontas@mil.lt
Photo credit: Ieva Budzeikaitė
