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Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade

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Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade
Active2009 (formed, operational readiness anticipated in 2011) - present
CountryPoland, Ukraine, Lithuania
Roleparticipation in international peace-keeping and humanitarian operations under the auspices of international organizations
Size4,500
Garrison/HQLublin, Poland
Nickname(s)LITPOLUKRBRIG

Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade (abbr. LITPOLUKRBRIG; Template:Lang-lt; Template:Lang-uk; Template:Lang-pl) is a planned multinational brigade consisting of units from the Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian armies. Other countries are free to join the trilateral agreement.[1] An agreement on its creation was signed on November 16, 2009. The brigade was to reach operational status in autumn 2011,[2] but it was delayed; a January 2012 estimate put that date at some time in 2013.[3] The unit was finally formed on September 19, 2014.[4]

Lithuania and Poland are NATO members,[5] while Ukraine is not. Ukraine asked to join the NATO Membership Action Plan in January 2008 (see Ukraine–NATO relations)[6] but shelved these plans early June 2010,[7] however, Ukraine's co-operation with NATO continued.[7]

History

On June 14, 2007, during an EU Defence Ministers' meeting, Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian ministers agreed to create a multinational unit.[8] In fall of 2008 the proposed unit type was specified as a brigade.[8] The three countries did have experience in past joint military operations, most notably, through the Lithuanian-Polish Peace Force Battalion and the Polish–Ukrainian Peace Force Battalion.[8] Lithuania and Poland are NATO members, Ukraine is currently not but requested to join the NATO Membership Action Plan in January 2008.[6] On November 2009 a "Protocol of Intent" covering formation of a joint Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian brigade ("LITPOLUKRBRIG") was signed by Defense Minister of Lithuania, Rasa Jukneviciene, Deputy Secretary of the Polish Ministry of Defense Stanisław Komorowski (representing the indisposed Defense Minister of Poland, Bogdan Klich) and acting Defense Minister of Ukraine Valeriy Ivashchenko.[9][10][11]

On March 17, 2014, The Daily Telegraph (online edition) reported, as part of its live coverage of the 2014 Crimean crisis, that Poland’s defence ministry had announced it was re-launching plans to establish a joint Polish, Ukrainian and Lithuanian military brigade.

The ministry said "defence ministers would meet later that week to discuss the formation of the brigade that would straddle Nato’s eastern border and bring Ukraine’s armed forces closer to the Western fold".

Planned organization

The 4,500-strong brigade will have its headquarters and staff in Lublin, Poland, with the national components stationed in their respective countries and actually gathering together only for exercises and foreign missions.[9] Only its staff officers will cooperate on a regular basis.[12] Once it reaches operational readiness (estimated for autumn 2011,[2] with full readiness in 2013[12][13]) it will be used to fulfill tasks given to it by NATO, European Union (EU) and the United Nations.[11] The operating language of the brigade will be English.[14] As of 2014, the brigade has not yet been fully operational.

Political ramifications

The agreement between Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine was signed two days before an EU summit with Russia aimed at increasing cooperation between the two.[11] Analysts expected the formation of the brigade could anger Russia,[11] because Russia is against Ukraine joining NATO.[15] A NATO spokesman welcomed the Polish-Lithuanian plan, stating that cooperation may increase trust and capabilities.[11]

According to Poland's Deputy Defence Minister Stanislaw Komorowski "This move reflects our support for Ukraine. We want to tie Ukraine closer to Western structures, including military ones".[11]

In November 2009 Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza predicted the chances that the brigade would become a reality where larger if Yulia Tymoshenko would win the Ukrainian presidential election, 2010, and smaller if Viktor Yanukovych would win them.[16] Yanukovych won the elections,[17] but preparations for the brigade continued.[18] Yanukovych stated on May 27, 2010 that Ukraine considered Ukraine's relations with NATO as a partnership, "And Ukraine can't live without this [partnership], because Ukraine is a large country".[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania to form joint peacekeeping brigade, Kyiv Post (November 17, 2009)
  2. ^ a b Combined Ukrainian-Polish-Lithuanian brigade could appear in autumn, Kyiv Post (13 May 2011)
  3. ^ "defence.professionals". defpro.com. 2012-01-30. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
  4. ^ http://www.dnd.com.pk/ukraine-poland-lithuania-formed-new-international-military-unit-litpolukrbrig/
  5. ^ Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine create joint brigade, The Baltic Course (November 17, 2009)
  6. ^ a b Ukraine asks to join NATO membership action plan, UNIAN (January 16, 2008)
  7. ^ a b Ukraine's parliament votes to abandon Nato ambitions, BBC News (June 3, 2010)
  8. ^ a b c Template:Pl icon Robert Rochowicz, List intencyjny w sprawie LITPOLUKRBRIG podpisany, Polska Zbrojna, 16.11.2009
  9. ^ a b Template:Pl icon Marcin Wojciechowski, Wspólna brygada Polski, Litwy i Ukrainy, Gazeta Wyborcza, 2009-11-16
  10. ^ Minister of National Defense to take part in the EU Defense Ministers' meeting in Brussels , Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Lithuania (November 13, 2009)
  11. ^ a b c d e f Poland, Lithuania eye military tie-up with Ukraine, Reuters (November 17, 2009)
  12. ^ a b Template:Pl icon Polsko-litewsko-ukraińska brygada do misji pokojowych, Gazeta Wyborcza (November 16, 2009)
  13. ^ Chief of Defence of Lithuania on the visit in Poland: “We share the vision of strengthening security in the region”, Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania (30 January 2012)
  14. ^ Template:Pl icon List intencyjny w sprawie LITPOLUKRBRIG podpisany, Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Poland (November 16, 2009)
  15. ^ Medvedev warns on Nato expansion, BBC News (March 25, 2008)
  16. ^ Template:Pl icon Brygada godna pochwały, Gazeta Wyborcza (November 16, 2009)
  17. ^ Profile: Viktor Yanukovych, BBC News
  18. ^ Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas met with Vice Minister of Defence Poland, Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Lithuania (March 15, 2010)
  19. ^ Yanukovych: Ukraine currently not ready to join NATO, Kyiv Post (May 27, 2010)
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