Lithuania hosts second phase of Exercise Saber Strike 2015
Xinhua, June 9, 2015 Adjust font size:
Official start of the second phase of Exercise Saber Strike 2015 was opened by two ceremonies in Lithuania's two largest military training areas Pabrade and Rukla on Monday.
"This is one of the largest exercise in Lithuania during the last decade," said the Commander of Lithuanian land force Major General Almantas Leika, while speaking during the ceremony at the General Silvestras Zukauskas training area in Pabrade.
"Even we know each other quite well and often participate in trainings together, however, only this kind of exercises let us and soldiers from our NATO allies improve our skills and our reciprocity," he added.
Major General Mark McQueen, deputy chief of staff of the U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR), wished the troops success during the exercise.
"This is an opportunity both for you and your commanders to learn from each other, opportunity to get stronger, improve your skills and test each other," McQueen said in Pabrade.
More than 2,000 soldiers from seven NATO allies, Canada, France, Germany, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia and the United States, lined up in both sites for the opening ceremonies of the exercise.
In total 2,800 soldiers will take part in the field tactical exercises in Lithuania.
Saber Strike is an annual international exercise held by USAREUR.
The international Exercise Saber Strike 2015 is running concurrently in the three Baltic States and Poland from June 1 to 19. Lithuania is the main host nation of the exercise this year. Endit