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Roundup: Lithuania, U.S. to step up military cooperation

Xinhua, June 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

Lithuanian government ratified on Wednesday a bilateral agreement with the United States on its military presence in Lithuanian territory and investments into Lithuanian defense infrastructure.

According to the announcement from Lithuanian Defense Ministry, the agreement between the governments of Lithuania and the U.S. stipulates prepositioning and stationing of the U.S. military equipment, weaponry and vehicles in Lithuania and the U.S. funded development of Lithuanian Army's infrastructure.

A two year agreement which can be extended is due to come into force as soon as both sides exchange diplomatic notes.

Juozas Olekas, Lithuanian Defense Minister, said the agreement fortifies one of the country's key security interests to have defense support from the strategic partner in Lithuania.

"Furthermore, U.S. funding will step up the development projects of national training areas aimed at enhancing the conditions for combined training and readiness for defense," a Defense Ministry statement quoted Olekas as saying.

The funding under the U.S. European Reassurance Initiative will be used to develop Airbase in Siauliai, where allied air forces conduct air policing missions in air space over the three Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. The funding will be allocated to develop training areas in Rukla and Pabrade, as well as other military infrastructure objects in Lithuania, said the Ministry.

Under the agreement, roughly 15 million U.S. dollars will be allocated to these projects this year. The European Reassurance Initiative announced by the U.S. President amounts to 1 billion U.S. dollars.

The agreement on closer military cooperation between Lithuanian and the U.S. follows a high profile visit in Lithuania by the General Phillip Breedlove, the Commander U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, a day before.

Breedlove met with top Lithuanian Defense officials to discuss security issues in the Eastern Europe and assess how defense commitments from NATO allies are being practically implemented in Lithuania. Last year NATO allies agreed to strengthen collective defense, particularly in the Eastern Europe.

Rotating forces of the United States were deployed in Lithuania in spring 2014 and have been attending joint military exercises in the Baltic States since then. Endit