German general becomes Lithuanian prime minister’s defence adviser

Retired German Army Lieutenant General Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart has become Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius’ adviser on defence and military transformation, LRT reported, citing the Government.

Von Sandrart will advise the prime minister on strengthening Lithuania’s defence capabilities, military transformation, cooperation with NATO allies, particularly Germany, and other strategic defence matters.

He commanded NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast until 2024. The corps is one of NATO’s key command elements on the Alliance’s northeastern flank and is responsible for planning and coordinating land operations and carrying out collective defence tasks in the region covering Poland and the Baltic states.

“General von Sandrart is a highly respected German officer with many years of experience commanding large military formations and planning NATO collective defence. His knowledge and practical experience in strengthening the defence of the Alliance’s eastern flank are particularly valuable to Lithuania,” Sinkevičius said in a statement.

Von Sandrart served in Germany’s Bundeswehr for more than four decades. During his military career, he held various command positions in German and NATO structures, including command of the German Army’s 1st Panzer Division. From 2021 to 2024, he led NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast in Szczecin, Poland.

He will serve as the prime minister’s adviser on a voluntary basis.

Sinkevičius became prime minister after the programme of the 21st Government was approved in mid-July. His government was formed by parliamentary factions from the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, the Democratic Union For Lithuania and the Union of Lithuanian Farmers, Greens and Christian Families.