Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade
Encyclopedia
Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade (abbr. LITPOLUKRBRIG; ; ) is a planned multinational brigade consisting of units from the Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian armies. An agreement on its creation was signed on November 16, 2009. The brigade is to reach operational status in autumn 2011. Other countries are free to join the trilateral agreement.
Lithuania
and Poland
are NATO members, while Ukraine
is not. Ukraine asked to join the NATO Membership Action Plan in January 2008 (see Ukraine–NATO relations) but shelved these plans early June 2010, however co-operation with NATO was not.
. 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. Lithuania
and Poland
are NATO members, Ukraine
is currently not but requested to join the NATO Membership Action Plan in January 2008. 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.
, Poland, with the national components stationed in their respective countries and actually gathering together only for exercises and foreign missions. Only its staff officers will cooperate on a regular basis. Once it reaches operational readiness (estimated for autumn 2011, with full readiness in 2013) it will be used to fulfill tasks given to it by NATO, European Union
(EU) and the United Nations
. The operating language of the brigade will be English
.
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".
In November 2009 Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza
predicted the chances that the brigade will become a reality where larger if Yulia Tymoshenko
would win the Ukrainian presidential election, 2010
, and smaller if Viktor Yanukovych
would win them. Yanukovych won the elections, but preparations for the brigade continued. 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".
Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
are NATO members, while Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
is not. Ukraine asked to join the NATO Membership Action Plan in January 2008 (see Ukraine–NATO relations) but shelved these plans early June 2010, however co-operation with NATO was not.
History
On June 14, 2007 during a EU Defence Ministers' meeting, Lithuanian, Polish and Ukrainian ministers agreed to create a multinational unit. In fall of 2008 the proposed unit type was specified as a brigadeBrigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
. 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. Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
are NATO members, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
is currently not but requested to join the NATO Membership Action Plan in January 2008. 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
Rasa Juknevičienė
Rasa Juknevičienė is a Lithuanian politician. In 1990 she was among those who signed the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. Currently Rasa Juknevičienė serving as Minister of Defense.-References:...
, Deputy Secretary of the Polish Ministry of Defense Stanisław Komorowski
Stanisław Komorowski
Stanisław Jerzy Komorowski was a Polish diplomat and physicist. Komorowski was long-term Polish Ambassador to Great Britain and Holland, the Deputy Minister of National Defence and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister...
(representing the indisposed Defense Minister of Poland, Bogdan Klich
Bogdan Klich
Bogdan Adam Klich was a Polish politician and Minister of National Defence of Poland. Bogdan Klich was interned in 1981 during the martial law set by the communist regime...
) and acting Defense Minister of Ukraine Valeriy Ivashchenko.
Planned organization
The 4,500-strong brigade will have its headquarters and staff in LublinLublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
, Poland, with the national components stationed in their respective countries and actually gathering together only for exercises and foreign missions. Only its staff officers will cooperate on a regular basis. Once it reaches operational readiness (estimated for autumn 2011, with full readiness in 2013) it will be used to fulfill tasks given to it by NATO, European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. The operating language of the brigade will be English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
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. Analysts expected the formation of the brigade could anger Russia, because Russia is against Ukraine joining NATO. A NATO spokesman welcomed the Polish-Lithuanian plan, stating that cooperation may increase trust and capabilities.According to Poland's Deputy Defence Minister
Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Poland
Ministry of National Defence is the office of government in Poland under the Minister of Defence. During the Second Polish Republic and World War II it was called the Ministry of Military Affairs...
Stanislaw Komorowski "This move reflects our support for Ukraine. We want to tie Ukraine closer to Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
structures, including military ones".
In November 2009 Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza
Gazeta Wyborcza
Gazeta Wyborcza is a leading Polish newspaper. It covers the gamut of political, international and general news. Like all the Polish newspapers, it is printed on compact-sized paper, and is published by the multimedia corporation Agora SA...
predicted the chances that the brigade will become a reality where larger if Yulia Tymoshenko
Yulia Tymoshenko
Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko , née Grigyan , born 27 November 1960, is a Ukrainian politician. She was the Prime Minister of Ukraine from 24 January to 8 September 2005, and again from 18 December 2007 to 4 March 2010. She placed third in Forbes Magazine's List of The World's 100 Most Powerful...
would win the Ukrainian presidential election, 2010
Ukrainian presidential election, 2010
The Ukrainian presidential election of 2010 is Ukraine's fifth presidential election since declaring independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The first round was held on January 17, 2010...
, and smaller if Viktor Yanukovych
Viktor Yanukovych
Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych is a Ukrainian politician who has been the President of Ukraine since February 2010.Yanukovych served as the Governor of Donetsk Oblast from 1997 to 2002...
would win them. Yanukovych won the elections, but preparations for the brigade continued. 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".
See also
- Military of the European UnionMilitary of the European UnionThe military of the European Union today comprises the several national armed forces of the Union's 27 member states, as the policy area of defence has remained primarily the domain of nation states...
- Multinational Corps Northeast - NATO formation grouping units from Denmark, Germany and Poland
- Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (historical)