Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas visited France on December 29 for talks with his French counterpart, Sebastien Lecornu, on the acquisition of Caesar Mark II wheeled self-propelled howitzers.
Anusauskas and Lecornu are also expected to discuss “bilateral cooperation, assistance to Ukraine, and other key security and defence issues”, the Lithuanian Defence Ministry said in a press release.
In June, the Lithuanian and French defence ministers signed a declaration of intent on procuring 18 new-generation self-propelled wheeled 155mm howitzers.
Lithuania has also decided to join the Caesar Mark II new generation artillery system development program of France’s General Directorate for Armament.
The Lithuanian Defence Ministry is planning to spend up to 150 million euros on the Caesar Mark II procurement project. The funds would cover the development and acquisition of the system and its integration into the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
The ministry noted in the press release that France was an important defence and security ally of Lithuania.
“The French Air Force is conducting its ninth rotation of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic States with Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft, its most powerful air asset,” it said. (LRT/Business World Magazine)