The U.S. Department of Defense announced entrance into a bilateral, non-binding Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA) with the Republic of Lithuania. The arrangement will enable both the U.S. and Lithuania to acquire the industrial resources they need to quickly meet defense requirements, resolve unanticipated disruptions that challenge defense capabilities, and promote supply chain resiliency.
“This Security of Supply Arrangement is a significant step forward in bringing our two nations even closer together,” said Dr. William A. LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. “Not only will this strengthen both U.S. and Lithuanian national defense supply, but it will also strengthen our commitment to expanding future collaborations between DoD and the Ministry of National Defence.”
The SOSA was signed on October 27 by Dr. LaPlante and Ms. Greta Tuckute, Vice Minister of the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence at the Pentagon, in Washington, D.C.
In the Arrangement, the U.S. and Lithuania commit intent to support one another’s priority delivery requests for procurement of critical national defense resources. The U.S. will provide Lithuania assurances under the U.S. Defense Priorities and Allocations System, with program determinations by DoD and rating authorization by the Department of Commerce. Lithuania will in turn establish a government-industry Code of Conduct with its industrial base, where Lithuanian firms will voluntarily agree to make every reasonable effort to provide the U.S. priority support.
SOSAs are an important mechanism for DoD to strengthen interoperability with defense trade partners. The Arrangements institute working groups, establish communication mechanisms, streamline DoD processes, and proactively act to allay anticipated supply chain issues in peacetime, emergency, and armed conflict. For more information, visit: https://www.businessdefense.gov/security-of-supply.html
Lithuania is the fifteenth SOSA partner of the United States. Other SOSA partners include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.