Ministry of National Defence of Republic of Li : Cooperation between Lithuanian and German military medics is strengthened

On January 22 Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas met with a delegation of the Bundeswehr Joint Military Medical Service led by Surgeon General Lieutenant General Dr. Michael Tempel to discuss bilateral cooperation in the area of military medicine, Lithuania's participation in the German-initiated Framework Nation Concept (FNC) to develop multinational military medical capabilities and the Multinational Medical Coordination Centre (MMCC). Other matters addressed was establishment of the EU Medical Command under the European Union Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) initiative.

'Today Germany has a special position in the Alliance and contributes substantially to our stronger security in and beyond the region. Stable German leadership in leading the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion in Lithuania stands an excellent example of the Alliance's deterrence and defence measures in practice,' Vice Minister V. Umbrasas said. Vice Minister of National Defence stressed that the German contribution was vital for NATO future and the European security architecture as a whole.

After the meeting at the Ministry of National Defence the German delegation of military doctors will visit the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Rukla, then meet with the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Military Medical Service, Lieutenant Colonel Jolita Sesartiene, visit the Service based in Kaunas.

Lithuanian-German defence cooperation

Lithuania and Germany have been developing defence cooperation since endorsing the first bilateral defence cooperation arrangement in 1994, updated in 2010. The countries' defence institutions cooperate across various levels and areas.

Areas of cooperation include combat training, weaponry acquisition, Lithuanian and German soldiers conduct standbys for multinational capabilities. Lithuanian military personnel study at German military education institutions, since 1994, around 400 Lithuanian troops graduated from them, including the Bundeswehr Senior Military Academy. German representatives contributed to the development of the military training system in Lithuania, rendered expert-level assistance.

Lithuania and Germany cooperated in the formation of the European Union Battle Groups and were on standby together in 2010.

Since October 2017 a platoon of Lithuanian soldiers serve in the UN-led Operation MINUSMA in Mali as part of the German Contingent. In the EU-led Operation SOPHIA in the Mediterranean (that Lithuania has been taking part in since 2015) Lithuanian troops serve aboard a German ship.

Germany deployed five air force detachments with fighter jets to conduct the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states from the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai and four - to provide the augmentation of the mission carried out from Amari Air Base in Estonia.

Photo credits: Giedrė Maksimovicz (MoD)