When Did Allies See Lithuania's Armed Forces As Equal?

It’s safe to say that Lithuania’s armed forces have transformed a lot over the past 30+ years - since regaining independence and breaking away from the USSR. I’m confident that I don’t know the full extent of this change, but I’m sure some viewers have lived and witnessed the transformation for themselves! So at what point in the past 30+ years did Lithuania's allies begin to see its military as competent equals?
Sources & References:
• E21: Lietuvos kariuome...
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kariuomene.lt/en/newsevents/p...
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kam.lt/en/international-opera...
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[@user-dt5nj3uk2s]

Love Lithuania so much. I’m American who mostly lives in Bosnia cause it’s cheap but I recently finished a month living in Vilnius and after visiting 59 countries I am shocked to say that Lithuania is one of my favorite countries in the entire world. The vibes of Vilnius and Kaunas are so clean, peaceful, modern, and positive. Other cities I visited were nice too (saw the whole country by train, a cheap and easy way to take day trips) but Vilnius and Kaunas are magical for some reason. Just hope the Russians are never able to ruin them again. Everything a Russian touches turns to crap.

[@expert69able]

So true. They come devastate everything and than demands respect to themself as liberators. That's silly.

[@eazy9925]

Thank you! 🇱🇹🇺🇸

[@rududuks]

Thank for your opinion. It's very nice that you from another life thinking understand our stand against russia

[@MartynasMat-sj3nk]

Warms my heart to read this, thank you!

[@eglunasklimavicius9771]

❤Aciu

[@anzelmasmatutis2500]

Lithuania's determined journey to NATO took 11 years.

[@DS.J]

I really love how you cover military topics in Lithuania. There has been a huge transformation of the LT Armed forces since around 2014 and the only way is forward. Lithuania is on course to have one of the most modern and well armed militaries among small countries in Europe which makes me, and I bet many other Lithuanians, sleep better at night.

[@UtamagUta]

I am actually more amazed about the fact that the LAF has a podcast

[@DestroyerOfLiberals]

Taliban was scared shitless of Lithuanian special forces on dirt bikes nicknamed "Hell's Angels" in Afghanistan.

[@rududuks]

Aitvaras - who give good luck to home

[@tikiman1323]

I'd say that we didn't upgrade our military. We created our military from almost zero. After USSR we had nothing and straight away started to copy Western military ideas and standards. I guess it's easier to create something form a scratch than to change soviet system to Western system.

[@m.m.6670]

I see a lot of videos about Lithuanian Armed Forces, comparing things like preparation, inventory, training, etc but I think a really crucial "ingredient" is missing in those videos and that is Lithuania's national personality trait of "stubbornness" 😆 If you've analysed our history and how determined and passionate we were about 'sticking it' to the threat from the East it would become clear that even a less prepared or worse equipped Lithuanian would probably fight better against the orcs than a more prepared and better equipped American. That and the fact that we know our region and our enemy almost intimately. Psychology matters a lot when it comes to combat and not only in things like keeping a calm and collected mind, but also in things like a shared national consciousness when it comes to the enemy that has harassed us for centuries.

[@rududuks]

I shocked how American (I think so) understand us. We were always on the border

[@TheBenbenben111]

Agree with every single word, and would like to add that in addition to stubbornness, we can turn rabbid when needed due to deeply hidden to strangers passions (we are a deeply passionate people,as it is seen in our intimate relationships, despite our poker faces to the outside), and also we mamaged to bring the passive aggressive to a new level thanks to ruzkies. We were constantly pushing their so-called buttons during the occupation and post (like street renaming where ruskie embassy stands etc). Since antiquity we were warriors, and the readiness is deep in our blood - not all population, obviously, but there are a lot of hidden gems, karžygių among both our men and women. The number of volunteering people to serve in our army speaks for this in volumes.

[@mbtrev]

Lithuenia has a huge army for it's size in terms of equipment It's easy to look at nearly 2000 armored vehicles as small force but if you divide it by 2.8 million population and multiply it by 140 population of Russia you will get you will get over 100 000 You can see Lithuenia has almost double the armor per capita than most states

[@digitalportugal]

Interesting channel. Subscribed.

[@jamesbohlman4297]

Those Lithuanian infantry look sharp deploying from Black hawk helicopters.

[@eruno_]

I think if we ignore the infamous "coup of volunteers" military incident in the 1993, the Lithuanian armed forces have spotless reputation and commitment to the safety of the country.

[@Skrendabitute]

What incident it is?

[@eruno_]

@@Skrendabitute basically it was military stand off between newly elected Lithuanian government and KASP soldiers who refused to follow orders and retreaded to forest, thankfully it was peacefully resolved.

[@Skrendabitute]

Is there any source to check?

[@eruno_]

@@Skrendabitute Google "Pakaunės savanorių maištas". Should find Wikipedia and media articles in general.

[@reaplikacija]

@@Skrendabitute google Pakaunės savanorių maištas ir rasi

[@tadasvidugiris4685]

Started my service at 2014 right after the moscovites invaded Ukraine. Served for 5 years, had been off the service for 4+ years and i got called to reserve practise or whatnot, and i can say that the military has changed tremendously. Starting from the gear and clothing you receive (which is brand new now), to the weaponry. All we need is motivation and personel.

[@mignas]

“As equal” began in 2006-7 after joint missions in middle east. A lot of learning happened and all the training provided by western european military schools shined. As for actually being equal - thats out of the question. No nato member is equal to american military. They are quite literally NATO itself, they have decades worth of real combat experience. Uk feels like a 16yo cousin (to an adult usa army). Not equal but very much respected, always on the just side, never ambiguous, plays with cards open, very strategic, never whimped out from spitting facts. Cocky, packs a punch, but not at full strength today. French have a lot of “sway” like the uk, but they are not aligned with anyone else. Always at 30 degree angle to everyone else, as they are in every other aspect. Often ambiguous, secretive. Germany, which should be the core and backbone of european military power, is primarily a bundestag (parliament) with a few muskets and some tanks in a locked garage. Potential is there, but the government and russian money is smothering it.

[@modestassutkus6148]

Like (Lietuva Vilnius)

[@ImmersedInHistory]

Is that a "KP bil" @0:36 ? I knew Sweden gave lots of stuff, but never knew about these. 😀

[@UtamagUta]

00:16 Just a perspective: Lego or a barbie doll was given ONLY on a special occasion, think jubilee birthdays (birth, 5, 10, 15). Appliencies only no name, made in Turkey or China (i had a teba oven f.e.). Mcdonalds was considered to be a posh restaurant and the *only* international clothing brand to open stores was United Colors of Benetton. Clothes from there was unachievable for most of us while I had a friend who was decked from top to bottom in those. Needless to say she had MANY barbies and a huge @ss Lego box. Needless to say I was white envy why my parents were succeeding despite having respectable jobs. My friends parents were selling their crafts to Westerners while living in Lithuanian prices thus affording all those posh things. While my parents sold a car to buy an old western computer. NOBODY would believe in this when visiting Lithuania in 2020's (somewhat believable if visited in early 2010's). The evolution in just my lifetime is immeasurable in all 3 Baltic states considering where we started. Side note, a story my dad told me. He once met an old acquaintance from university times in the 90's. Note that, my Dad had to to travel back and forth Vilnius-Kaunas for work everyday and could barely afford groceries, but he took pity on that friend as he saw a university professor with SO worn out shoes that not all homeless people would wear nowadays. Times were tough, we owe Boomers respect for their achievements and resilience. For gen-Xers too but they were about to graduate and their era was the 2000's, a slightly easier period.

[@Zbroja69]

Never.

[@Normal-zx6ts]

Brudha, you ruzzian lmao?

[@Aski2]

NATO Allies can not see Lithuanian Armed Forces as equal, because Lithuania is lacking in numbers of soldiers, equipment and weapons. Lithuania got only two brigade level units, and these are not fully armed and ready. Lithuanian has small Air Force, without jet fighters. Air Defense is not numerous, only short and very short range, with poor AD radar systems. Naval forces also are small and weak. Land Forces has not any tanks and new trucked IFV. Artillery is not numerous. Supporting troops are lacking equipment, especially heavy gear. Some armored, wheeled vehicles and light forces are not enough to successfully defend alone Lithuania. Therefore limited Lithuanian Armed Forces are not equal. They need Allies help and more own units, weapon systems, and better infrastructures.

[@expert69able]

Maybe it would be surprise to you but Lithuania is much lesser than Germany for example. Yet Lithuania spends smth 3% of gdp to military that's probably twice more than Germany's. Don't want to underestimate Germany which is our best ally but when comparing some sanity should be applied.

[@Semtino]

You clearly are not keeping track of what's being bought and what is already bought because some of the things you said are bogus.

[@Aski2]

@@expert69able Hmm, Lithuania do not spend 3% of GDP. This is their plan in near future. What is more, Lithuania buys mainly very expensive German and USA weapons. These way Lithuanian Army has got much less weapons. Worst things are their poor AD and AEW systems, limited artillery, few drones and support troops. They has not tanks, IFV, MLRS, jet fighters, and only few utility helicopters. These mean, Lithuanian Army is vulnerable with aerial and heavy armored vehicles attacks, and has little artillery and engineering support with heavy equipment. I wonder why they do not buy cheaper, but good enough, weapons from other states. This way they could buy more numbers and wider range weapon systems, and better arm more units.

[@Aski2]

@@Semtino Do you suggest that Lithuania already bought tanks, tracked IFV, MLRS, ARV, JABS, jet fighters? I do not think so. They still have not such important vehicles. Maybe Lithuania plan to purchase something heavy, but contracts are not realized. There are not any deliveries yet.

[@IgnasLT1111]

don't cry bud😀

[@edvibal]

I just don't like that the Lithuanian Politicians are provoking Russia. Lithuania as a small country would benefit from being neutral, but it's hard when you're part of EU and NATO there is a certain Agenda. I don't like how the International Politics are evolving in relation with the conflict in Ukraine.

[@centrasseptyni8277]

Do you like Russian invasion?

[@rh7018]

Lithuania is not provoking anyone. By the way Lithuania was a neutral country that got invaded by russia in 1939 anyway - under invented pretext. Also Ukraine was neutral in 2014 when russia invaded itm, breaking all agreements. russia can not demand from its neighbors who russia has invaded multiple times already not to set up collective security arrangements, like NATO!

[@expert69able]

I think Russian politicals or to be true just Putin provokes whole civilized world currently.

[@edvibal]

@@rh7018 1939 Hitler and Stalin divided eastern europe for themselves with the Molotov pact, different times, different circumstances. Urkaine after Maidan was not neutral anymore, USA and CIA installed their agents and meddled into Ukrainian politics, started pro EU and NATO propaganda and Putin reacted to this with military actions, because Ukraine is too close to Russia and he would'nt allow NATO to put Ballistic Missles on Ukrainian land.

[@noob8]

​​​@@edvibalrussians should fuck off. Ask your self a question why no nation wants to be with them? Ask even nations which are inside russia like bashkirs

[@dumbassperson]

this is one of the most intersting channels ive seen covering about stuff in lithuania, keep up the good work!