On January 17-18 Military Committee convene at NATO HQ in Brussels in the first of the three Chiefs of Defence Sessions this year: NATO CHODs and leadership addressed NATO and international security issues.
"It was an intense and fruitful discussion. We have touched upon numerous issues, including Lithuania's security. These issues, alongside Military Committee advice, will be considered at political level by the NATO Defence Ministers at the meeting in February," Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Jonas Vytautas Žukas said.
On the first day NATO's Command Structure Functional Assessment, enhanced deterrence and defence posture, NATO adaptation,implementation of the Projecting Stability Initiative, military cooperation with the Mediterranean Dialogue and Interoperability Platform (Japan and South Korea) partners were addressed, and prospects of the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan were reviewed.
On the margins of the session General Curtis Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR), and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), met with CHODs of the three Baltic states.
"We had a frank discussion on the security situation in our region, Alliance and U.S. plans for the defence of the Baltic region, and preparations for deployment of the NATO enhanced forward presence," LTG J. V. Žukas.
On the second day the participants met with partners, Georgia and Ukraine, to discuss the status and progress of Georgian defence reform, and further implementation of the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package. In the session on Ukraine security situation in and around the country and reform of Ukrainian security and defence sector was discussed.
Particular focus at the session was given to Russia, the threat it poses to the Alliance, and possibilities for a NATO-Russian dialogue.
The Military Committee (MC) is NATO's highest structure of military command subordinate to the North Atlantic Council, Defence Planning Committee and Nuclear Planning Group. It takes strategic-level military decisions and forms military advice to the North Atlantic Council, the political decision-making body.
At the highest level the MC is comprised of NATO countries' Chiefs of Defence while daily activities is carried out by their military representatives. Chiefs of Defence sessions normally take place three times per year, two in Brussels and one - in one of the NATO states on a rotational basis.
Photos: www.nato.int
More information at: http://bit.ly/2jAgPTT
Spokesperson for the Chief of Defence of Lithuania Mindaugas Neimontas, 00370 5 278 5091, 00370 682 25359, e-mail: mindaugas.neimontas@mil.lt
