Video (Sgt Spt 1st Class Lukas Kalvaitis)
“We deeply appreciate Germany’s leadership in the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group – it is a substantial contribution to the security in Lithuania and the entire Baltic region,” Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis said on October 10 in Rukla, meeting with Minister of Defence of Germany Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer who had come to see German soldiers serving with the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group.
“The visit not only demonstrates the solidarity among Germany, Lithuania, and all the NATO allies but also send out a clear signal to any potential aggressor that NATO countries are united and ready to protect their territory,” Minister R. Karoblis underscored. According to Minister, the countries had to assess soberly and adequately the threats coming from Russia in the region and the entire Europe, and therefore the NATO eFP Battalion was an adequate response from the international community.
“It was a very conscious decision to start visiting the Baltic states in Lithuania, Germany is proud to take a leading role in our common efforts in NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence here in Lithuania. It is our shared conviction that we have to remain united and that cohesion in the alliance is of paramount importance – especially in times when the challenges to our common security interests are growing. Germany and Lithuania will address these issues shoulder to shoulder and we are coordinating our steps as closely as possible both within NATO and the EU,” Minister of Defence of Germany A. Kramp-Karrenbauer said during the visit in Lithuania.
Defence Minister of Germany also thanked Lithuania for the hospitality and great conditions provided for the German military personnel in Lithuania and assured that they will not only be actively involved in manning the Battalion but also in regional exercises.
Minister R. Karoblis noted that Germany is increasing its collective defence commitments, e.g., is creating the new NATO Joint Support and Enabling Command which will ensure easier movement of NATO forces in Europe, as well as their deployment in the NATO region in case of necessity.
R. Karoblis also thanked Germany for the investments in Lithuania’s military infrastructure. In 2017–2018 the Ministry of Defence of Germany spent approximately 62.3 million euros in Lithuania and plans to spend approx. 87.4 million euros in 2019–2021. The German Defence Ministry also plans additional funding for anti-UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) equipment, target systems for Infantry Fighting Vehicles, etc., in 2020.
“Germany has also become Lithuania’s main partner in military acquisition area: PzH 2000 heavy artillery systems, technologically up-to-date Vilkas Infantry Fighting Vehicles are procured from Germany to modernise the Lithuanian Armed Forces,” Minister R. Karoblis said. Lithuania is also buying Mercedes Benz trucks, G-36 assault rifles and other equipment and weaponry from Germany.
Germany has been the framework nation of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group based in Rukla since 2017: Germany has the largest contribution of over 600 troops in the 6th rotation of the multinational unit deployed in Lithuania for deterrence and defence. In total, over 1.2 thousand soldiers from 6 countries currently make up the NATO eFP Battle Group Lithuania.
It was the second meeting of Minister of National Defence R.Karoblis and Minister of Defence of Germany A. Kramp – Karrenbauer this year. They first met in August at the European Union Defence Ministerial in Brussels. Ms A. Kramp-Karrenbauer was appointed as the Minister of Defence of Germany in July earlier this year.
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Photo credits: Giedrė Maksimovicz (MoD)
