"Judging from what I have seen, Lithuanian armed forces are very well prepared for membership of the Alliance", General Richard Myers, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said at a press briefing in Vilnius.

"Lithuania's activities on both operational and political levels are impressive", Myers added.

Myers met with Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas, Defence Minister Linas Linkevicius and the head of the Lithuanian army Jonas Kronkaitis at the start of his first ever visit to the country on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters Myers praised Lithuania's military contribution to international missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"They are carrying out their mission perfectly. The coalition forces serving in Afghanistan admire their work", he said.

Forty-four 44 Lithuanian servicemen have been in Afghanistan since November 2002 and the same number have been sent to Iraq as a part of a Danish unit.

Another 45 Lithuanian troops are due to leave for Iraq in August as part of a Polish military unit.

Lithuania, has committed itself to spend two percent of GDP on defence in the coming years.

The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were among seven ex-communist countries invited to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation at its Prague summit in November last year.

WAR.WIRE