The Lithuanian government has allocated EUR 276mn from borrowed funds for military mobility and infrastructure projects in 2023, BNS reports. Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste said that the Defence Ministry would invest EUR 148mn and the Ministry of Transport and Communications another EUR 128mn in the first year of the investment programme. Total investments in military…
Canada’s new defence attaché to Lithuania, Colonel Robert Foster, was accredited at the Lithuanian Defence Ministry on 26 July 2023, BNS reported. Prior to his appointment, Foster served as Canada’s defence attaché in Ukraine for the past four years. Lithuania’s Defence Minister, Arvydas Anusauskas, expressed hope for greater military cooperation with Canada, which has deployed…
The Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) has received a new batch of cargo trucks and multi-purpose vehicles (MPV), the Defence Ministry announced, Baltic News Network reports. LGP received 53 new Peugeot Rifter MPVs. So far, LGP has received 90 Rifter MPVs, with the remainder expected to be delivered by the end of 2023. Lithuania is procuring…
Lithuania plans to sign a letter of intent to buy Leopard tanks from Germany, Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas announced, BNS reports. He noted that the acquisition would require sustainable financial sources. The minister said that the Leopard met the operational requirements best. Lithuania will acquire the tanks to create an army division. The Lithuanian parliament,…
Lithuania is assembling a coalition of countries to help Ukraine’s demining efforts, Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas announced, BNS reports. He said that besides Lithuania, the coalition now included Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and soon Denmark. The minister invited other countries to join with their instructors and equipment. The demining mission will operate in territories liberated…
Latvia should increase the number of defence personnel by at least 1.3 times to around 31,000 in view of the current geopolitical situation, Major General Imants Ziedins of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) stated, LETA reports. He noted that such an increase would not be possible without the compulsory military service. Ziedins said that…
Joint policy coordination among the three Baltic States was crucial in the current geopolitical situation, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics stated, LETA reports. Speaking during an official visit to Lithuania, Rinkevics noted that Latvia and Lithuania shared common interests in terms of EU and NATO policy, strengthening security and defence capabilities, ensuring energy security and independence,…
Estonia’s Minister of Defence, Hanno Pevkur, has approved a defence plan for 2024-2027 to increase the country’s military capabilities and defence forces, ERR reports. Pevkur said that Estonia would acquire “significantly more and better weapons, ammunition, and equipment,” as well as invest in people and infrastructure. The defence plans include investments in the Ämari Air…
Latvia’s Ministry of Defence and National Armed Forces (NBS) have extended the application period for volunteers in the second draft for military service by about a week until 21 July 2023, LSM reports. The Ministry of Defence said that there was a spike in applications just before the earlier deadline. So far, 172 young volunteers…