19 November 2016, 00:28 GMT
VILNIUS (Sputnik) — The exercise, set to last through December 3, will train soldiers from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the USA, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania and Slovenia.
"The multinational military exercise provides an opportunity to demonstrate skills. When we share our knowledge during exercises, we become stronger. I know that the military personnel, which have arrived to participate in the exercise, are prepared for it. I would like the Iron Sword 2016 to be challenging for all participants," Col. Dalius Polekauskas, the maneuvers commander, said during the opening ceremony.
Earlier this week, Lithuanian Land Forces Commander Valdemaras Rupsys said that the objective of the exercise was a quick and efficient response to all units in the area to conventional threats.
Iron Sword exercise, hosted by Lithuania for the third time, is a part of the NATO Military Training and Exercise Program.
