The President congratulated Germany on its decision to start stationing the military brigade in Lithuania as early as in 2024.
“The relocation of the German heavy-armored brigade to Lithuania is a milestone in strengthening the security of NATO’s eastern flank and ensuring forward defense capabilities. Providing all the necessary infrastructure for the deployment of the brigade is a priority objective of the Government of Lithuania, and we all share the ambition to make this a success story and an example for other countries in the region,” President Gitanas Nausėda said at the meeting.
The Head of State stressed that Lithuania is rapidly increasing its defense investment, which will stand at 2.71% of GDP in 2024, and is aiming to be fully prepared for the deployment of the German brigade as early as in 2026.
The Presidents of Lithuania and Germany discussed further response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
Gitanas Nausėda underlined that Western countries have to ensure and accelerate the delivery of military assistance to Ukraine, to hold the aggressor Russia accountable for its aggression and war crimes, and to expand sanctions against Russia to include companies operating in the fields of nuclear energy, information technology, laser industry, as well as financial institutions.
The Lithuanian leader invited the President of Germany to attend the Three Seas Initiative Summit to be held in Vilnius in spring 2024.
“The Three Seas Initiative not only strengthens economic cooperation between the countries of the region, but also promotes the development of infrastructure projects, thus ensuring greater security and helping to redirect the flow of goods and services from East and West to North and South,” the President pointed out.
Later this evening in Berlin, President Gitanas Nausėda will also participate in an informal discussion on the EU’s strategic agenda at the invitation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
