“First of all, let me thank Germany for the support to strengthening Lithuania’s security and defence, particularly for Germany’s decision to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battlegroup in Lithuania – we are in trustworthy hands,” Minister of National Defence R. Karoblis said at the meeting. According to the Minister, deployment of the NATO E FP battalions near the Alliance’s eastern border is not only a sign of solidarity and unity among members but also a real deterrent from military perspective that enhances regional security.
The Minister also underscored that the battalions in the Baltic states and Poland have to be in combat readiness, well-armed, fully integrated, and interoperable with host nations’ armed forces, in order to ensure proper deterrence. According to the Minister, as Lithuania gradually increases defence budget, it not only seeks to enhance national defence capabilities, but also to provide appropriate host nation support for allied military units. “We strive to provide the best conditions we can for allied troops – it is and will continue to be in our focus,” the Minister said.
The Minister stressed that Lithuania understood it primarily had to ensure national security itself while seeking deterrence and security. “Lithuania has been increasing defence spending for several years in a row. The size of defence budget will reach 2% of GDP in 2018. And it will not be the ceiling, the percentage could grow further in the future,” R.Karoblis said.
“We have also undertaken internal reforms: we have reinstated military draft, we are expanding our land forces, we are strengthening and modernising defence capabilities.” Lithuania plans using approx. 30% of defence budget for defence procurement in 2017.
The Minister noted that being a responsible ally, Lithuania does not only look after its security but also actively contributes to international security and stability efforts. Germany is our valued partner in international missions and operations. Nearly a half of all Lithuanian Armed Forces’ soldiers deployed to international operations, i.e. the UN-led MINUSMA and the EU-led SOPHIA – counter-illegal migration operations, will be assigned to German contingents this year.
After the meeting with the national defence leadership the guests left for Rukla to meet with military personnel of the Germany-led NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battlegroup in Lithuania.
According to a poll carried out by request of the Ministry of National Defence in December 2016, Lithuanian society views Germany as the second friendliest European nation to Lithuania after Latvia.
