A Belgian soldier has died after being critically injured during a live-fire exercise at the Pabradė training area in Lithuania’s Švenčionys District, the Lithuanian Armed Forces have confirmed on Saturday.
The service member received first aid at the scene before being taken to a hospital in Vilnius on Friday. Lithuanian doctors worked around the clock, but he later died from what “multiple extremely severe injuries,” the statment read.
“We extend our sincere condolences to the family and colleagues of the fallen soldier and to our close ally Belgium. Lithuania stands firmly with Belgium in the face of this very painful tragedy,” Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said in the statement.
President Gitanas Nauseda also expressed condolences over the soldier's death.
“It is with deep sadness and grief that I received the news of the Belgian soldier's death during the exercises. We all share the pain of this loss – service members of the NATO enhanced forward battlegroup, the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and the people of Lithuania,” he said.
“The presence of Belgian soldiers in our region is not only a guarantor of Lithuania's security but also of the security of the entire transatlantic community,” the President added.
Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys wrote on X that Lithuania “mourns in solidarity together with our Belgian Allies”.
Belgian troops have been deployed to Lithuania on a rotational basis since 2017 as part of the Germany-led multinational NATO battalion.
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