On September 23-25, the First Sea Lord and Chief of the UK Naval Staff Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope will pay a formal visit in Lithuania.
On September 23-25, the First Sea Lord and Chief of the UK Naval Staff Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope will pay a formal visit in Lithuania.
On September 23, Wednesday, the high guest and delegation will meet with the Minister of National Defence Rasa Juknevičienė, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Major General Arvydas Pocius, Chief of Defence Staff Rear Admiral Kęstutis Macijauskas, and other ministerial and military authorities at the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence. On September 24 Adm. Sir M. Stanhope will visit Lithuanian Naval HQ and Flotilla in Klaipėda and meet with the Commander Naval Force Captain Navy Olegas Mariničius.
Representatives of both countries will discuss development of NATO capabilities and cooperation between Lithuanian and UK Royal Navies: participation of the Royal Navy ships in mine clearance operation in territorial waters and exclusive economic zone of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea, naval training and other issues.
Mark Stanhope took up the position of the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff in July 2009. He is responsible to Secretary of State for the fighting effectiveness and efficiency of the Naval Service.
Lithuania and the United Kingdom have been developing a close cooperation in the fields of defence and security. The UK supported trilateral military projects of the Baltic States, training of the personnel of the National Defence System, British specialists provided consultations for Lithuanian Armed Forces on organisation of military training.
Present cooperation focuses on naval bilateral cooperation and cooperation within NATO framework. Warships from navies of both countries have been assigned to take part in Standing NRF Mine Counter Measures Group (SNMCMG-1), Lithuania permanently contributes military personnel to the Allied Maritime Component Command Headquarters Northwood. Bilateral cooperation between countries' Special Operations Forces has been launched as well.