Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas is visiting Paris on June 13-14 where he is to sign a letter of intent on purchasing French self-propelled 155mm howitzers Caesar with newly appointed French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecorn.
The ministers would also sign documents enabling the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence to join the development programme of the Caesar Mark II new generation artillery system being implemented by the Procurement Agency of the French Ministry of Defence, the Lithuanian Defence Ministry said in a press release.
The Lithuanian and French defence ministers will also discuss France’s contribution to the security of the Baltic region, support to Ukraine and the forthcoming NATO summit in Madrid.
Lithuania’s Chief of Defence Valdemaras Rupsys said in April that Lithuania was considering to purchase French self-propelled howitzers Caesar, which would be assigned to one artillery battalion of the motorised infantry brigade Zemaitija.
Newly purchased French howitzers should be delivered to Lithuania until 2026.
With Russia pressing on with its invasion of Ukraine, Lithuania has been speeding up procurements after increasing defence financing to approximately 2.52% of GDP. (LRT/Business World Magazine)