Polish, Lithuanian presidents sign joint security declaration

The document, signed in Warsaw on Thursday, includes coordination of security and defence policies within the framework of NATO and the EU, as well as collaboration between the two countries’ armed forces, Poland’s PAP news agency reported.

The declaration also champions the presence of US army soldiers in Central and Eastern Europe.

Duda said: “I believe that in the next few months we will know the US administration’s decision” on stepping up its engagement in central Europe. He added that he hoped that Washington would boost the number of troops in the region and expand security infrastructure and US military equipment.

Grybauskaite, on a two-day visit to Poland, said that Lithuania “supports [Warsaw’s] efforts towards having the biggest possible US military contingent on its territory,” PAP said.

Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak and his Lithuanian opposite number, Raimundas Karoblis, on Thursday sealed an agreement on military collaboration.

The document paves the way for secure communication systems for exchanging radar data.

The ministers also signed a letter of intent affiliating Lithuania’s Geležinis Vilkas (Iron Wolf) mechanised brigade and Poland’s 15th Mechanised Brigade with the North-East Multinational Division in Elbląg in times of peace.

On Friday, Grybauskaite, Duda and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko are expected to pay a visit to a brigade comprising troops from the three countries.

The LITPOLUKRBRIG, based in the eastern Polish city of Lublin, numbers 4,500 soldiers.

Trilateral talks between the leaders are also expected to take place in the city, Poland’s IAR news agency reported.

(aba/pk)

Source: PAP, IAR