On February 15 the Parliament of Norway approved the Government’s decision to deploy more military capability to Lithuania. Shortly, an additional mechanized infantry platoon with assigned support elements will be added to the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Rukla.
“We are grateful to Norway for the weighty contribution to regional security. The security situation as it is recently demands additional response , therefore the Norwegian decision to deploy more troops is a particularly necessary and important one,” says Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas.
Before the approval at the Parliament, the deployment of additional 60 Norwegian military service members to Lithuania was coordinated with the Minister of Defence Odd Roger Enoksen. According to A. Anušauskas, strengthening the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group in Lithuania is core to effective deterrence.
The German-led NATO eFP battalion in Lithuania currently includes approx. 140 Norwegian military personnel with Leopard 2 A4 tanks, CV 90 30 Mk IFV infantry fighting vehicles and support elements.
The full strength of the allied unit at Rukla numbers approx. 1,200 troops, while the 11th rotation of it currently in charge will be reinforced by 350 service members by decision of Germany.
Photo credits: MoD/A.Pliadis.
