Portugal strengthens presence in Lithuania within NATO
The Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMGFA), Admiral António Silva Ribeiro, indicated this Friday that Portugal will increase the presence of its military in Lithuania within the scope of NATO and continue the mission in Romania.
“What I can say is that this year we are going to add to the effort that we started in 2022 a maritime patrol aircraft for two months, it’s a new mission, a patrol vessel, including a detachment of divers for 40 days in Lithuania, a military intelligence that will stay in Lithuania for a year, it’s a new mission, and a maritime special operations unit for four months in Lithuania,” he said.
CEMGFA spoke to journalists at Reduto Gomes Freire, in Oeiras, at a joint press conference regarding the official visit to Portugal of the president of the NATO Military Committee, Rob Bauer.
According to information transmitted to the Lusa agency by CEMGFA, as part of the mission aimed at deterring threats on the eastern flank of the Atlantic Alliance and guaranteeing a continuous military presence, a total of up to about 280 Portuguese militaryincluding 146 marines.
Always speaking in English, the admiral also indicated at the press conference that four F-16M fighters will be sent to Lithuania.
According to information from CEMGFA, the F-16M fighter jets will be in that Baltic country for four months, two more compared to last year, and the Portuguese Armed Forces will participate in air policing missions within the scope of reassurance measures for the NATO with up to 85 military.
As for Romania, Silva Ribeiro indicated that the Portuguese Armed Forces will maintain their contribution and “continue the 2022 effort”.
“By 2023 we will have a year-round mechanized infantry company in Romania, a year-round air defense unit, a year-round special operations unit and a year-round military intelligence cell,” he said.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, more of 200 military of the three branches of the Armed Forces participating since April on a mission to strengthen NATO’s eastern border.
Portugal is going too send another 14 M113 armored vehicles and eight large-capacity electric generators for the Ukrainebringing “to 532 tons the total of military equipment, lethal and non-lethal” supplied to the country, as announced by the Minister of Defense, this Friday.
In this context, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, analyzed this Friday with his Security Council the situation of military intervention in Ukrainewhile NATO and Contact Group countries for Ukraine discuss military aid in Kiev.