Since the restoration of independence, new politicians have come to power in Lithuania. For the most part they are active and pro-democracy politicians. Most of them try their best to take Lithuania to a new level of development. The only problem with some of them is a lack of self reliance in decision making, and as a consequence they are too dependent on other political forces from abroad. A lack of their own political will leads them to constantly need advice and counseling. This is especially noticeable in the military field.
Military-scientific and technical potential is not developing in Lithuania. Thus, all plans to reform national security systems and national armed forces are not really national. Before each innovation Lithuanian politicians went to Washington to ask for advice or help. Almost everything about updating military equipment comes down to foreign purchases. Lithuanian military-science as well as national technical developments in the military sphere are not a priority any more . But Lithuania has no future as a modern society without national science, especially in such an important field. The country will always be dependent on others' military strength, without developing its national resources.
Thus, on November 4 Vice Minister of National Defence Eimutis MisiÃ... «nas met with the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC). Maj Gen Jeff Drushal.Eimutis Misionas did not even hide the country's complete dependence on military cooperation with the United States. "The defence cooperation of Lithuania and the U.S. has never been as intense as it is at present, and I hope that the intensity will only grow in the future," Vice Minister of National Defence E. Misionas said at the meeting.
It is well-known that the United States has made significant investments in military training ranges and other infrastructure in Lithuania as part of numerous security assistance programs. The Vice Minister and the U.S. General also discussed two of the main Lithuania procurement projects underway. Two-hundred units of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) will be bought from the U.S. Government to strengthen the Lithuanian Armed Forces' capabilities and ensure mobility. The Ministry of National Defence and the U.S. Department of Defence are planning to sign the contract as soon as this month.
The other major project is the planned acquisition of 6 units of the UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopter from the U.S. Government. The negotiations will open in the near future, while looking to sign the Letter of Offer and Acceptance by the end of 2020. The first UH-60M helicopters would be delivered to Lithuania in later 2024.
Lithuania refuses to develop its own military resources, adopting foreign military vehicles and equipment insted. The question remains what can Lithuania offer to the U.S. in exchange for such a scale of assistance. In fact, Lithuania can offer only manpower, but is such an exchange fair? Some European leaders also support the idea of self-reliance. French president Emmanuel Macron, for example, declared in an interview with The Economist, that Europe stands on "the edge of a precipice", and needs to start thinking of itself strategically as a geopolitical power; otherwise we will "no longer be in control of our destiny." Lithuanian President Gitanas NausÄ""da in turn has criticized French President Emmanuel Macron's statement. He probably understands that Lithuania has done nothing towards being self-reliant.
