Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas met with Czech Ambassador to Lithuania Ales Opata on Thursday and invited the Czech Republic to join the NATO Rotational Air Defence Model.

“We are grateful for the Czech contribution to the security of Lithuania and the Baltic states. We greatly appreciate the participation of Czech troops in the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group (eFP) in Lithuania and in the NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic states,” Anušauskas was quoted as saying in a statement released by the Defence Ministry.

Anušauskas also invited the Czech Republic to contribute to a joint exercise to put the NATO Rotational Air Defence Model into practice.

“We very much appreciate the air defence capabilities that the Czech Republic is sending to Lithuania. Air defence remains a major challenge in our region. We see how important it is during Russia’s war against Ukraine. We are working to ensure a transition from air policing to air defence, including the deployment of air defence systems,” Anušauskas said.

The Rotational Air Defence Model should ensure rotational deployment of allied ground-based air defence systems, while also enhancing aviation capabilities.

During his meeting with the ambassador, the Lithuania defence minister also invited the Czech Republic to consider ways for cooperation in the field of cyber security and to increase support to Ukraine.

Source