On Tuesday, Lithuania marks 18 years since the nation's accession to NATO on March 29, 2004. The programme of celebrations includes the hoisting of the Lithuanian and NATO flags and a concert in Vilnius' central Lukiškės Square.
"Lithuania's NATO membership has even more meaning today," Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas said in a press release on the eve of the anniversary.
"The Russian war on Ukraine fundamentally changes many things, we are made to see the price of security, freedom of choice and liberty in general," he said. "Today NATO allies are united and stand together more than before as we all aim to assist Ukraine."
The port city of Klaipėda is also hosting a change of command ceremony for the motorised infantry brigade Žemaitija and an exhibition of military equipment and weapons.
At the ceremony, Colonel Nerijus Stankevičius, Žemaitija's commander since 2019, will hand over the command to Colonel Aurelijus Alasauskas.
The brigade was established in 2016 in response to Russia’s aggression in the region.
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