Other events in Baltic States

On Wednesday, Lithuanian Grand Duke Algirdas Mechanised Infantry Battalion in Rukla will be visited by Col. James Blackburn, Commander of NATO Response Force 14 Land Component US Brigade the Baltic Battalion is assigned to, reports ELTA/LETA.

During the visit the US Brigade Commander will be briefed on BALTBAT, readiness for duty procedures and support of the Battalion will be addressed. The guest will also observe training of members of the Grand Duke Algirdas Battalion who will be delegated to BALTBAT. Col. Blackburn has already observed exercise of the Baltic Battalion once. On June 2009 the Commander took part in an evaluation exercise "Baltic Eagle 09" held in Latvia after which BALTBAT was evaluated as ready for duty in NRF-14 and conduct combat tasks.

The Baltic Battalion joining around 800 servicemen into the unit is led by Lithuania. The trilateral Battalion was formed in 2007 by the agreement of the Baltic States. According to the agreement each Baltic country committed to assign to the Battalion one infantry company, personnel for the Battalion's combat support units, and other capabilities. In July 2009 Lithuania increased its commitment by a company and an antitank platoon, and Estonia – by MP and mine neutralisation units as a result of Latvia's decision to cut down on its contribution to BALTBAT. The Baltic Battalion will begin the half-year rotation period in NRF-14 in the beginning of 2010. NATO Response Force is high-readiness and technologically advanced allied force made of land, air and maritime components capable of quick deployment at any time in any place. National units assigned to NRF maintain high readiness level in their home countries and are ready to deploy to the spot of multinational operation once the decision has been adopted by NATO military command, reported the press service of the National Defence Ministry.