News archive 2021
NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation HQ visits the Military Academy of Lithuania
2022 10 27
On 27 October, the delegation headed by the NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation HQ General Philippe Lavigne visited the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania.
The guests met with the Commandant of the Academy Brigadier General Almantas Leika and other representatives. They were introduced to the activities of the Academy, the directions and results of international cooperation and participation in the Erasmus+ Study Programme, the studies of cadets and officers at this higher education institution, military and professional training, leadership development programme, and courses organised at the Academy.
The meeting also drew attention to the contribution made by the Military Academy of Lithuania, as the Ministry of National Defence has been increasingly involved in the development of the Lithuanian military and defence industry in recent years.
The Centre for Defence Innovations established at the Academy in 2020 is the first competence centre of its kind in the national defence system. It helps identify and refine system’s defence innovation needs, promotes cooperation with foreign scientific institutions, social, business and scientific partners in Lithuania, introduces representatives of the national defence system to the high technologies and achievements developed by Lithuanian business in the field of defence, and implements projects promoting defence innovation both nationally and internationally.
While visiting the Military Academy of Lithuania, General Philippe Lavigne presented to the cadets, teachers and officers the structure, priorities and tasks of the represented headquarters, as well as the principles of NATO defence, deterrence and resilience.
General Lavigne emphasised that the North Atlantic Alliance is lucky to have Lithuania as its member, as it sets a good example for other states, especially recently, by providing significant support to Ukraine.
“Be brave and look 20 or more years ahead, and prepare for the future now,” the General advised the audience. – “Our task is not easy, especially because everything is changing very quickly. It is important to remember one rule – we will not win tomorrow’s war based only on the experience of past wars. Of course, we learn from the war in Ukraine, but we need to constantly think about the long-term perspectives, how to perform our tasks better and faster, and how to best serve our country.”
The Commandant of the academy Brigadier General Almantas Leika thanked General Philippe Lavigne for his visit and presentation about the Alliance, his interest in the training of Lithuanian officers and the Academy’s contribution to promoting defence innovations in the country.
During his visit to Lithuania, the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation HQ also met with the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupšys, the Defence Policy Director of the Ministry of National Defence, Vaidotas Urbelius, and the Director of the Regional Cyber Defence Centre, Colonel Romualdas Petkevičius, and visited the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence.
In the photos of Eimantas Genys – General Philippe Lavigne’s visit to the Military Academy of Lithuania
The guests met with the Commandant of the Academy Brigadier General Almantas Leika and other representatives. They were introduced to the activities of the Academy, the directions and results of international cooperation and participation in the Erasmus+ Study Programme, the studies of cadets and officers at this higher education institution, military and professional training, leadership development programme, and courses organised at the Academy.
The meeting also drew attention to the contribution made by the Military Academy of Lithuania, as the Ministry of National Defence has been increasingly involved in the development of the Lithuanian military and defence industry in recent years.
The Centre for Defence Innovations established at the Academy in 2020 is the first competence centre of its kind in the national defence system. It helps identify and refine system’s defence innovation needs, promotes cooperation with foreign scientific institutions, social, business and scientific partners in Lithuania, introduces representatives of the national defence system to the high technologies and achievements developed by Lithuanian business in the field of defence, and implements projects promoting defence innovation both nationally and internationally.
While visiting the Military Academy of Lithuania, General Philippe Lavigne presented to the cadets, teachers and officers the structure, priorities and tasks of the represented headquarters, as well as the principles of NATO defence, deterrence and resilience.
General Lavigne emphasised that the North Atlantic Alliance is lucky to have Lithuania as its member, as it sets a good example for other states, especially recently, by providing significant support to Ukraine.
“Be brave and look 20 or more years ahead, and prepare for the future now,” the General advised the audience. – “Our task is not easy, especially because everything is changing very quickly. It is important to remember one rule – we will not win tomorrow’s war based only on the experience of past wars. Of course, we learn from the war in Ukraine, but we need to constantly think about the long-term perspectives, how to perform our tasks better and faster, and how to best serve our country.”
The Commandant of the academy Brigadier General Almantas Leika thanked General Philippe Lavigne for his visit and presentation about the Alliance, his interest in the training of Lithuanian officers and the Academy’s contribution to promoting defence innovations in the country.
During his visit to Lithuania, the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation HQ also met with the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupšys, the Defence Policy Director of the Ministry of National Defence, Vaidotas Urbelius, and the Director of the Regional Cyber Defence Centre, Colonel Romualdas Petkevičius, and visited the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence.
In the photos of Eimantas Genys – General Philippe Lavigne’s visit to the Military Academy of Lithuania
