2024-08-07 21:06:39
The event was attended by the commander of the Lithuanian army, gen. Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Commander of the Land Forces Brig. Gen. Artūras Radvilas, ambassadors and defense attachés of countries donating soldiers to the battalion, commanders of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and other guests.
“We highly appreciate the commitment of Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Luxembourg to deploy troops in Lithuania. The determination, vigilance and unwavering solidarity shown by the Allies are of the utmost importance when it comes to strengthening the front line. I sincerely thank the soldiers who completed the 15th rotation for their service in ensuring the security of Lithuania,” Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas addressed the allied soldiers.
Up to 1.6 thousand will serve in Rukla. allied soldiers who arrived in Lithuania with such military equipment as “Leopard 2” tanks, “CV90” and “Boxer” infantry fighting vehicles and self-propelled wheeled artillery systems. Germany is contributing the most troops to the battle group, while the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, the Czech Republic and Luxembourg have also committed troops to the new rotation.
The commander of the infantry brigade “Gelezinis Wilkas”, Col. Aurelijus Motiejūnas thanked the EFP BG commander who was finishing his service in Lithuania and handed over the flag to the commander of the 16th rotation, Col. Lt. Sebastiaan Schillemans: “I congratulate the soldiers of the new rotation who are ready to integrate into the Brigade. I can assure you that an intense and dynamic time awaits you in Lithuania. Security challenges on NATO’s eastern border still remain, so we will be alert and ready, while being flexible and creative.”
in 2016 At the summit held in Warsaw, NATO decided to deploy forward forces, and since the beginning of 2017, the first soldiers of this NATO combat unit have arrived in Lithuania. The battle group of the battalion of the NATO forward forces is stationed in Rukla (Jonava district) and is integrated into the composition of the “Iron Wolf” infantry brigade of the Lithuanian army. Allied soldiers together with Lithuanian soldiers participate in the military training program, since the deployment of eFP BG in Lithuania, more than 19,000 soldiers have already trained. soldiers from nine different NATO countries.
2024-08-07 21:06:39