Breaking news
Lithuania and Latvia seek joint military equipment procurement 21609162.
| 2016
| a | |||
|
|
|||
|
Defence & Security News - Lithuania & Latvia
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Lithuania and Latvia seek joint military equipment procurement
|
|||
|
On September Minister of Defence of Latvia Raimonds Bergmans and Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Juozas Olekas agreed to collaborate to synchronise procurement of military equipment and signed a joint communique laying out the agreement.
|
|||
|
|
|||
 Minister of Defence of Latvia Raimonds Bergmans and Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Juozas Olekas agreed to collaborate to synchronise procurement of military equipment(Credit: Lithuanian Ministry of Defense) |
|||
|
|
|||
|
The document will serve as a framework for the countries’ close cooperation in developing combat capabilities which would strengthen regional security, reinforce NATO Assurance and Deterrence Measures in the Baltic states, and allow contributing to NATO initiatives.
“By this document we commit to seek effective and favourable procurement solutions which would strengthen defence capabilities and enhance operational compatibility of the Latvian and the Lithuanian Armed Forces,” Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas said at the meeting. According to the document the Ministers agreed to take joint actions to synchronise procurement of such military equipment as fire distribution centres for air defence, anti-tank missiles, short-range anti-aircraft missiles, and such. To that end, Latvia and Lithuania will carry out information exchange regarding national defence capability development and procurement. The countries will hold joint seminars and workshop as well as negotiations and talks with manufacturers seeking the most favourable offer. The countries also plan to mutually take part in workshops and seminars held with other countries, institutions, organisations, and manufacturers. “The agreement signed today is a certain milestone in our recent cooperation: by this we agree to make every effort to synchronise our procurement. That will not only help us track common denominators in the cooperation between our armed forces but will also reinforce the NATO Assurance and Deterrence Measures. It is also important in respect of the region as a whole for it is the same area we also cooperate with Estonia and Poland in,” Minister of Defence of Latvia R. Bergmans said. Latvia and Lithuania implemented a successful joint procurement of Carl-Gustav munitions with Estonia in 2013 on the basis of an agreement of the three countries and the European Defence Agency. Other issues the Ministers addressed were their countries’ plans preparations done and ahead for hosting rotational forces early next year, and further steps in strengthening Baltic cooperation. |
|||