defence

Lithuanian-French relationship is officially called a strategic partnership, close cultural cooperation is in place but economic relations and defence relations are rather scarce.

The security of the Baltic states is not among the top 10 issues on the agenda of the new US presidential administration, says US defence expert Samuel Gardiner.

The Lithuanian State Defence Council on Tuesday suggested earmarking 2.07 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) for defence next year.

The Lithuanian State Defence Council is meeting at the President's Office on Tuesday to discuss financing of the defense sector for 20

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia agreed on Wednesday to facilitate the movement of allied forces in the region as NATO's multinational battalions are being deployed to the Baltic countries, the Lithuanian Defence Ministry said.

Ten tanks of the United States Armed Forces arrived in Lithuania on Friday in an effort to deter Russia and demonstrate the US commitment to NATO's collective defence.

Lieutenant Colonel Petras Montvila should be appointed as Lithuania's next defence attache to Russia, members of the parliamentary National Security and Defence Committee confirmed to BNS after discussing candidates on Wednesday.

Brigadier General Valdemaras Rupšys, the commander of the Lithuanian Land Force, and Lieutenant General Joerg Vollmer, the chief of staff of the German Army, have signed a letter of mutual cooperation, the Lithuanian Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

The Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade LITPOLUKRBRIG in late January was declared to be at full operational capability, the Lithuanian Defence Ministry said.

Several hundred German troops will come to Lithuania by plane and by train in early February for their deployment in the country as part of NATO's multinational battalion, the Defence Ministry said on Monday.

Some 67 percent of Lithuanian residents agree that the international NATO battalion under establishment in Lithuania will help deter hostile countries, shows a poll published on 27 January.

Lithuania's Defence Ministry suggests raising salaries for troops by 5 percent in October and by further 10 percent in mid-2018, according to figures envisaged in the draft governmental resolution.

Based on the implementation of Russian deterrence, a tank and AFV brigade from the United States has already reached Poland from where it will proceed to Lithuania. Despite Russian protests, this year a NATO battalion led by the German armed forces will be deployed in Lithuania.

The Lithuanian Defence Ministry published on Monday this year's military conscription lists.

Vaidotas Urbelis, a senior official at the Lithuanian Defence Ministry, next April will start serving as defence adviser at the country's embassy to the United States.