Finnish defence chief visits Lithuania
The chief of the Finnish Defence Forces, General Janne Jaakkola, is on a two-day official visit to Lithuania, the Lithuanian Armed Forces announced on Thursday.
During the visit, General Jaakkola will meet with Lithuania’s Chief of Defence, General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, and familiarise himself with Lithuania’s military capabilities and security situation.
“Finland is one of the best examples of total defence in Europe. Its long-standing experience in preparing a large and high-quality military reserve, strengthening societal resilience, and uniting state institutions, businesses, and citizens for a common security goal is valuable for Lithuania,” General Vaikšnoras said, as quoted in the statement.
He added that one of his priorities as Chief of Defence is a well-prepared active reserve and a consistent move towards universal conscription. “Therefore, Finland’s experience in this area is particularly important to us. Facing common security challenges, we seek to expand practical cooperation and jointly strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence on the eastern flank,” he said.
The Finnish delegation will be presented with Lithuania’s defence capability development priorities. A key focus of the visit will be a trip to the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area, where General Jaakkola will be introduced to the Autonomous Remote Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operations (ANBO) Unit.
General Jaakkola will also visit the Padvarionys border checkpoint to learn about the security situation at the EU’s external border, border surveillance systems, hybrid threats, and counter-mobility measures being implemented. Together with General Vaikšnoras, he will also pay tribute to the victims of the Medininkai massacre at the Medininkai Memorial.
“Lithuania and Finland are linked by close military cooperation within NATO. Both countries consistently strengthen their defence capabilities, develop total defence principles, prepare active reserves, and contribute to strengthening NATO’s security on the eastern flank,” the Lithuanian Armed Forces stated.