Sunde is scheduled to meet with Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Rasa Juknevičienė, Lithuanian Chief of Defense Lt Gen Arvydas Pocius, other representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and visit the Energy Security Center, Lithuania's Ministry of National Defense said in a statement on Thursday.
Leadership of the Ministry of National Defense of Lithuania and the Lithuanian Armed Forces will discuss the Baltic-Nordic cooperation initiatives and priorities, bilateral military cooperation between Lithuania and Norway, contribution of the countries to multinational military capabilities, and opportunities of cooperation in combat training and preparation.
The ministry said Lithuania and Norway have been developing tight cooperation in defense policy planning and joint projects because both countries maintain similar stance on transatlantic relations, political and security affairs, both countries are fellow members of NATO, participate in joint international forums, and are close geographically. Several dozens specialists from the Lithuanian Air and Land Forces and the Lithuanian Navy, the Lithuanian Special Operations Forces and logistics units have been annually involved in a variety of exercise and training events in Norway over the last decade.
Norway was the first Western country to donate weapons to Lithuania, including ships and air defense systems. Lithuania has purchased weaponry from Norway numerous times.
