“We thank the Pennsylvania National Guard for its long-term friendship and support for the Lithuanian army. The United States is significantly increasing funding for the National Guard State Partnership Program, of which Lithuania is also a part,” the Ministry of National Defense quotes R. Kaunas as saying.
This is what the minister said when he met with Stevens Nordhaus, the commander of the US National Guard office who is visiting Lithuania.
“From its side, Lithuania continues to share the burden of strengthening security in principle – the allies positively received the news about Lithuania’s readiness to join the US-led actions in the Strait of Hormuz in the allocation of demining capabilities,” noted R. Kaunas.
BNS announced that Lithuania would like to send up to 40 soldiers and civilians to international missions in the Strait of Hormuz, and they would participate in demining work. According to R. Kaunas, the actions could also be carried out in the waters of the Gulf of Persia and Oman bordering the strait.
On Thursday, the Seimas approved such a mission approved by the State Defense Council after its presentation, and the MPs will consider it as a matter of urgency.
In the meeting with S. Nordhaus, the minister also expressed a desire to expand cooperation both with the Pennsylvania National Guard and with other units of the US military in the fight against drones, including experimental technologies.
In addition, they discussed the attraction of US defense industry companies to Lithuania, the need to maintain political and economic pressure on Russia and maintain support for Ukraine.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the commander of the National Guard office noted that Lithuania remains an exemplary and reliable ally. The parties to the meeting agreed to seek more frequent exchanges of officers, share good practices and strengthen the competence of both countries in the field of new technologies.
As BNS wrote, the Pennsylvania National Guard under the state partnership program (eng. State Partnership Program) has been cooperating with Lithuania since 1993.
