On August 13, Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, met with Lithuanian Minister of Defense Dovilė Šakalienė at the Pentagon to discuss the importance of the long-standing U.S.-Lithuanian defense cooperation as part of the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program.
Ambassador Gediminas Varvuolis, Army Maj. Gen. John Pippy, adjutant general of the Pennsylvania National Guard, and Army Maj. Gen. William Edwards, director of NGB’s Strategic Plans and Policy, and International Affairs, joined the discussion that also highlighted Lithuania’s significantly-increased defense budget in support of ongoing modernization of Lithuanian Armed Forces and toward NATO’s new member nation target of 5% of gross domestic product allocated annually to defense and security-related expenditures.
Paired in 1993, Lithuania and the Pennsylvania National Guard were recognized as one of two, 2022 Partnership of the Year awardees selected from more than 100 global pairings under the SPP. Spanning the past 32 years, the two forces have conducted more than 900 security cooperation engagements including 18 co-deployments to Afghanistan and several multinational training and readiness exercises.
Lithuania is among 115 partner nations under the SPP and the mutually beneficial relationship helps the National Guard and the DoD to ensure global deterrence against potential adversaries and shared peace through strength.