On April 29 the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania ratified the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany concerning Temporary Stays of Members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Lithuania and the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Territory of the Other State. The document lays out terms for temporary stay of troops of armed forces of Germany and Lithuania deployed in each other’s territories for training and exercises, transiting Lithuania’s land territory. The agreement also defines terms for humanitarian assistance and search and rescue operations.
“The German military presence in Lithuania is one of the most important NATO deterrence and defence measures, therefore we will seek an even stronger bilateral cooperation with Germany. Strong as it is, this agreement will fortify the Lithuanian and German partnership even more,” Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas says.
The agreement between Lithuania and Germany was signed on behalf of both Governments at the Ministry of National Defence in June 2020. The only other agreement of such character and level Lithuania has is signed with the United States of America.
Additionally, the document will serve as a basis to set supplementary or new rules concerning some aspects of military cooperation: for example, in setting the limits on the number of deployed troops and the period of time of their stay in the host nation, additional requirements for state of health certification for members or armed forces deploying to a host nation. The agreement will also set regulations on the areas not covered by the NATO Status of Forces Agreement (NATO SOFA) signed in 1951, such as, environmental protection (respecting environmental sustainability, prioritising travel by railway), telecommunications (limitations on radio frequencies use for advertising, jamming), and others.
Germany initiated the document signed with Lithuania on the basis of several factors, particularly, because according to the German Unification Treaty signed on 31 August 1990 by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and Annex I of the Treaty the NATO SOFA document is not in force in the former GDR territory, including East Berlin. The new agreement solves the issue.
Photo credits: MoD archive
