According to the President, Germany is the strongest economic and political power in Europe, and therefore its leadership in safeguarding the security of NATO’s eastern flank is of particular significance for Lithuania and other Baltic countries.
Taking into account the tense security situation near NATO borders, Germany took the lead role in the formation of a multinational battalion in Lithuania, to which Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, and France will also contribute troops. The battalion will be in place and fully operational in 2017.
The other multinational battalions, led by the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, will be deployed to Estonia, Latvia and Poland.
The President underlined that Germany was a key partner in the process of modernizing Lithuania’s armed forces, equipment and other military components. Lithuania has purchased German howitzers PZH 2000. It will also buy sophisticated Boxer infantry fighting vehicles, machine guns and grenade launchers from Germany.
German and French fighter jets are currently conducting NATO’s air policing mission, which guards the skies over the Baltic states.
Ursula von der Leyen suggested that Lithuania should take advantage of the German Foreign Ministry’s experience with regard to the transparent use of funds in public procurement, and invited representatives from Lithuania to come and familiarize themselves with the system.
