On July 6, on State Day of Lithuania, Chief of Defence of Lithuania General Valdemaras Rupšys was awarded a state decoration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Commander Cross with swords of the Order of Orange-Nassau. Chief of Defence of Lithuania was recognized with the high award by decision of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands for his exceptional merit and personal dedication in strengthening state relations between Lithuania and the Netherlands, bilateral military cooperation and friendship of the peoples. The solemn decoration ceremony was conducted with participation of Chief of Defence of the Netherlands General Onno Eichelsheim conducting a visit in Lithuania.
According to General Rupšys, the state-level decoration of the Netherlands recognizes the merit of expertise and dedication to service of all the enlisted personnel and officers of Lithuania.
“Lithuania and the Netherland share a special bond. We highly appreciate the continuous contributions of the Dutch military and the state to the security of our country, as well as their demonstration of solidarity and NATO unity. Today it is the first of Allies to bring the Patriot long-range air defence systems for an exercise to Lithuania thus leading by example towards implementation of the Rotational NATO Air Defence Model,” said Chief of Defence.
On July 6 the Patriot long-range air defence system arrived in Lithuania via Klaipėda Seaport to take part in the bilateral air defence exercise Baltic Connection 24 which will aim to hone rapid redeployment, integration and interoperability of air defence systems with national capabilities in response to the threat posed by Russia.
Since deploying the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion in Lithuania in 2017 the Dutch contingent has been among the most substantial in it, actively supporting deterrence as well as social assistance, educational and charity community projects in Lithuania.
The Netherlands takes command of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence for the first time. When Germany stations permanently the 45th Panzer Brigade in Lithuania and the NATO eFP becomes its integral part, the Dutch will constitute the main part of its contingent.
President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda presented to Chief of Defence of the Netherlands Onno Eichelsheim the Commander’s Cross of the Order for Merits to Lithuania for his special merits in strengthening the Lithuanian Armed Forces, weighty contribution in developing the defence partnership between Lithuania and the Netherlands and international military cooperation.
State awards were bestowed by presidential decree on the occasion of State Day to NATO Allies from Germany. Chief of Defence of Germany General Carsten Breuer was presented the Grand Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merits to Lithuania for the special merits in developing and fostering state-level relations between Lithuania and German and an exceptional contribution in strengthening Lithuania’s security. The Knight’s Cross of the Order of Merits to Lithuania was presented to Commander Multinational Corps Northeast Major General Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart. Former Chief of Defence of Germany General (retired) Eberhard Zorn was recognized with the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merits to Lithuania.
Photo credits: SSgt Spc Ieva Budzeikaitė