Lithuanian, Portuguese army chiefs discuss bilateral, NATO cooperation

VILNIUS – Chief of Defense of Lithuania has met with his Portuguese counterpart Jose Nunes da Fonseca and discussed key issues related to military cooperation between the two countries and in the NATO context, the Lithuanian army said on Friday.

The two chiefs of defense visited the Portuguese Air Force troops who currently deployed in Lithuania's Siauliai as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission and the Portuguese Marines currently deployed in Klaipeda on a rotational basis at the Brigadier General Povilas Plechavicius training area.

The Portuguese chief of defense came to Lithuania together with the country's Defense Minister Nuno Melo who met with Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas on Thursday.

"Although we are geographically distant from each other across the European continent, Portugal has a global view of the security situation and a very good understanding of the threats facing our region," Rupsys said in the statement.

Portugal has been sending its troops and fighter jets to take part in the Baltic Air Policing mission since 2007, and the country's marines have been deployed in Klaipeda on a rotational basis since 2018.