The event was attended by Chief of Defence of Lithuania General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, Commander of the Lithuanian Land Force Brigadier General Artūras Radvilas, Ambassadors and Defence Attachés of the contributing eFP BG nations, commanders of the armed serviced and other guests.
“We highly value the commitment of Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Czech Republic and Luxembourg to deploy troops in Lithuania. Allied resolve is critical when it comes to enhancement of forward defence. I sincerely thank the outgoing military personnel of the 15th rotation for their service and keeping Lithuania safe,” said Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasčiūnas addressing the Allied troops.
The new rotation of up to 1.6 thousand troops will be based in Rukla with their Leopard 2 tanks, CV90 and Boxer infantry fighting vehicles and self-propelled wheeled artillery systems. Germany will continue to be the largest troop contributor to the eFP BG Lithuania, alongside with other contributing nations: Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Czech Republic and Luxembourg.
Commander Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf Col Aurelijus Motiejūnas thanked the former eFP BG Commander for his service in Lithuania and transferred the colors to Commander of the 16th eFP BG rotation Col Sebastiaan Schillemans. “I welcome the incoming rotation troops to the Brigade. I can assure that you have an intense and dynamic tour in Lithuania in front of you. Security challenges by the eastern border of NATO are still there, so we will stay vigilant and ready as much as flexible and creative.”
NATO took the decision to deploy the enhanced Forward Presence capabilities at the Summit in Warsaw in 2016. The first troops of the multinational unit where already in Lithuania in early 2017. The NATO eFP BG Lithuania is based in Rukla (Jonava region) and integrated in composition of the Infantry Brigade Iron Wolf. Allied troops together with the Lithuanian colleagues undergo a combat readiness cycle which has already been taken by over 19 thousand Allied troops from 9 Allies since 2017.
