On November 3-4 Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces General Rajmund T. Andrzejczak is conducting a formal visit in Lithuania. The guest has met with Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Valdemaras Rupšys and other representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, visited Antakalnis Cemetery to lay flower wreath tributes at the freedom fighters’ and Polish military tombs.
The focus of Gen R. T. Andrzejczak’s visit is enhancement of the Lithuanian-Polish military cooperation and signature of Orsha agreement which lays out priorities and major areas for further cooperation.
“Lessons learned over year at war prove that intelligence is an invisible yet imperative means in modern warfare, so the agreement provides clear-cut guidelines for intelligence exchange across all areas. The document also addresses exercise which will allow us to test force readiness and ensure the unity and integration of our territory. The bilateral development of our relations adds up to NATO’s effort of strengthening regional deterrence and defence,” noted Chief of Defence Lt Gen V. Rupšys.
The Chiefs of Defence unilateraly agreed to continue the active security situation situational awareness information exchange and synchronization of joint action plans for land, air and maritime domains. The Baltic Sea area, the Suwalki Gap retain the strategic importance for the security of the whole Alliance, therefore a joint coordinated response to any threats and Allied presence in the region is aimed for in order to ensure deterrence and defence.
The Polish delegation will continue the visit at the Lithuanian Air Force Base at Šiauliai to see Polish airmen on Poland’s 11th rotation of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission. The Polish Air Force put forward its upcoming rotation, therefore the Lithuanian host nation support spending package has been enlarged to take care of the living and service conditions of the deploying Allies.
Photo credits: Sgt Spc 1st Class I.Budzeikaitė/Lithuanian Armed Forces
