Dutch King Willem-Alexander (55) visited soldiers in Pabradė in Lithuania. The monarch took part in an exercise, as previously announced by the palace. The visit began with a briefing at the military training area. Afterwards he spoke to the Dutch armed forces.
The king was accompanied on his visit by Lieutenant General Martin Wijnen (57), the commander of the armed forces. According to Colonel Han Bouwmeester, the King’s visit was greatly appreciated by the soldiers. “The king is the highest authority in the Netherlands. If he takes the time to travel all the way to Lithuania, then that motivates,” he said on the program “Goedemorgen Nederland” on NPO 1. The Dutch soldiers are part of the increased NATO presence aimed at protecting and, if necessary, defending Europe’s eastern flank.
The king then continued in the capital Vilnius, where he was received by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda (58) in the Presidential Palace.
