VILNIUS, Feb 7 (LETA--BNS) - The chiefs of defense of the Baltic states and six other countries are to discuss the future of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in London on Thursday, spokespeople for the Lithuanian armed forces said.

The chiefs of defense of Estonia, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland and Sweden will have an in-depth discussion on possibilities for JEF deployment, capability development projects and plans, and draft combat training plan for the coming three years.

They will also be briefed on the concept of a table-top exercise for the JEF-contributing countries' defense ministries scheduled for April and will review its scenario from the military perspective.

The JEF is a 10,000-strong high readiness multinational combat unit formed to respond to emergencies in Europe and beyond. The JEF can be deployed upon the decision of contributing countries. A company-sized Lithuanian unit of around 150 troops is regularly assigned to the force.