The Minister met with German, Belgian and Dutch soldiers deployed in Rukla since January. Commander of the NATO eFP Battalion Battlegroup Colonel Christoph Huber told the Federal Minister of Defence about the deployment and activities of the unit.
The high-ranking German guest also met with Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas and leadership of Rukla-based units of the Lithuanian Armed Forces while in Rukla.
The German-led NATO eFP Battalion is deployed in Lithuania in response to the aggressive Russian actions in Ukraine and the changed security situation in the region.
The decision to deploy NATO eFP Battalion Battlegroups in each of the Baltic states and Poland as of 2017 was taken at the NATO Summit in Warsaw in July 2016. The decision showcases NATO Alliance solidarity and unity, and stands as a reliable demonstration of deterrence and readiness for collective defence.
