Lithuania is eyeing to establish a stronger partnership with the Philippines in the fields of defense and security, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Friday, April 12.
DND spokesperson Director Arsenio Andolong said this was discussed when Non-Resident Ambassador of Lithuania to the Philippines Ricardas Slepavicius and Lithuanian Minister Counsellor Vilijus Samuila paid a courtesy visit at the DND Building in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on April 11.
According to Andolong, Slepavicius shared Lithuania's policy towards the Indo-Pacific region to the DND represented by Defense Undersecretaries Irineo C. Espino and Ignacio B. Madriaga, and Assistant Secretary Marita I. Yoro.
Both the DND and Lithuanian sides looked forward to develop cooperative defense engagement between the two countries which could include the areas of military training, cyber security, energy security, defense technology, research and development, and countering hybrid threats.
Andolong said the Lithuanian envoy recognized the Philippines as “an important part of the region” and underscored the two countries’ “common interest for peace, security, and a rules-based international order.”
“The Lithuanian Ambassador also expressed strong support for the Philippines, particularly with regard to national territorial integrity and legal rights under international law,” Andolong said.
The meeting followed Espino’s previous interaction with Mr. Vaidotas Urbelis, Defense Policy Director at the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense, on the margins of the 12th International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue Sherpa Meeting last January in Singapore.
At the meeting, Espino expressed openness to hold defense talks with the Baltic state and learn about Lithuania’s experience in dealing with bellicose or aggressive states.
The enhanced partnership came as the country seeks to bolster its bilateral and multilateral cooperation with other nations while facing a challenging security situation in the West Philippine Sea due to China’s presence.
US air force secretary at DND
Meanwhile, Espino also met with United States Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall III at the DND Building to discuss the deepening alliance between the two treaty allies.
Espino thanked the US government for the arrival of the second of two Lockheed Martin C-130 tactical transport aircraft which was acquired through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program.
The refurbished aircraft arrived on February 16 and is now supporting the humanitarian and disaster response operations and cargo airlift fleet operations of the Philippine Air Force.
Espino also acknowledged the support of the US Congress for allocating US$109 million for the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) projects.
The two security officials discussed the upcoming conduct of Exercise Balikatan later this month, which boosts the interoperability of the two countries' armed forces, as well as enhancing the AFP's external defense operations.
They also reaffirmed the Philippines-US commitment to protecting and maintaining the international rules-based order in the West Philippine Sea.
Kendall was accompanied by US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson; General David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the US Air Force; and Chief Master Sergeant David A. Flosi, Chief Master Sergeant of the US Air Force.