Chief of Defence of Lithuania Gen Valdemaras Rupšys met with Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces General José Nunes da Fonseca with whom he discussed the current topicalities of military bilateral and NATO cooperation. Lithuanian and Portuguese Chiefs of Defence visited the Portuguese Air Force military personnel currently conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states based in Šiauliai, Lithuania, and the rotational unit of the Portuguese marines (Fuzileiros) deployed at Brigadier General Povilas Plechavičius Training Area, Klaipėda.
Visit of General José Nunes da Fonseca is part of the visit of Minister of National Defence of Portugal Nuno Melo to Lithuania. This is the first trip to a foreign country to meet his forces that Minister conducts since his appointment. The official delegation of Portugal also includes Admiral Henrique Gouveia e Melo, Chief of the Naval Staff of Portugal, and Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force General João Cartaxo Alves.
According to Chief of Defence of Lithuania, Lithuania and Portugal are bound by intense and tight military ties dating back to the very beginning of Lithuania’s NATO membership. Both countries cooperate as they contribute to the international peace and stability efforts in the European Union Training Mission in Mozambique. Lithuania was among the first countries to support the mission initiated by Portugal and continues to do so. Portugal also regularly sends a reconnaissance aircraft to carry our reconnaissance over the region and exchanges intelligence.
“Despite the geographical distance of the entire European continent between us, Portugal has a distinct global view of the security situation and understands the threats facing our region perfectly. The rotational Portuguese contingent in Lithuania are excellent servicemembers, exceptionally professional, stoic and resilient to difficult conditions. Their active full-scope engagement in the exercises conducted in Lithuania, quality cooperation with our troops and strong collective defence commitments help to attract more Allied presence in Lithuania,” underscored Gen V. Rupšys.
The F-16s and personnel of the German Air Forces have been rotating in the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states since 2007. This is the seventh time that Portuguese troops are guarding the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian skies this year. The country is among the most frequent contributors to the Air Policing efforts.
The Portuguese fusiliers-marines deployed in Klaipėda since 2018 are assigned to the Lithuanian Great Hetman Jonas Karolis Chodkevičius Griffin Brigade and trains side by side with the Brigade personnel. The present rotation is different also, as it is fully autonomous rather than attached to the contingents of other NATO Allies here in Lithuania, which entails a heavier focus on logistics.
Chief of the Naval Staff of Portugal recognized Commander of the Griffin Infantry Brigade Col Aurelijus Alasauskas with a Portuguese Navy 1st Class Cross Medal for the excellent partnership, benevolent, consistent, proactive assistance in hosting the Portuguese contingent in Lithuania.
Photo credits: Lithuanian Armed Forces