WHITE 18 PA P E R 9 500 10 000 8 000 7 000 6 000 6 000 4 000 2 000 0 990 2013 2014 2015 2016 NATO land force personnel in exercises in Lithuania of the U.S. and other Allies have been deployed in Lithuania and other countries in the region. In 2015, NATO Force Integration Units were stood up and established in Lithuania and five other NATO nations with the responsibility to facilitate the rapid deployment of the NATO Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) and other NRF elements to the region. In 2017, following the decision of the NATO Summit in Warsaw, four NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battalion size battlegroups were deployed in the Baltic States and Poland. Combat ready eFP forces, being fully integrated into the NATO command and control structure, make it abundantly clear that an attack against one ally is an attack against the whole Alliance. This decision has strengthened NATO deterrence and thus decreased the likelihood of military conflict in the region. The visibility of NATO military units in the region is increasing not only on land but also at sea and in the air. While implementing the 2014 NATO security measures agreed upon at the Wales Summit, the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission was reinforced by deploying additional QRA fighter aircraft to the Baltic countries. The long-term goal of Lithuania is to agree upon the strengthening of the NATO air defence posture in the region, including the possible transition of the NATO Air Policing Mission to an NATO Air Defence capability in case of crisis. Allied military naval vessels regularly perform various tasks in the Baltic Sea, visiting harbours of the Baltic states, and participate in exercises. When Lithuania joined NATO, international exercises in the region were mostly of a smaller scale and oriented towards preparation for out of area operations. After Russia’s aggression against Georgia, NATO started to organise a NATO Response Force (NRF) and other NATO exercises in the Baltic states as an expression of solidarity. The number and scale of international exercises have substantially increased in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and has shifted to collective defence scenarios. International exercises sends a message that the Alliance is properly prepared to respond in case of crises, helps to enhance interoperability between the LAF and Allied forces as well as increases regional situational awareness for the Allies. Lithuania’s goal is to conduct continuous joint combat training exercises with Allies to prepare for collective defence and other tasks.