“German force presence in Lithuania and a permanent deployment of the German Brigade on the ground is our priority. German forces committed to our defence is something really seen and appreciated,” underscored Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas meeting Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius on a visit in Lithuania.
Lithuanian and German Defence Ministers have agreed on the deployment of a German-led brigade in Lithuania: approx. 4 thousand troops will be permanently stationed in Lithuania in a while.
A. Anušauskas extended gratitude for the strong Germany’s commitment and leadership in our region, including the military presence in Lithuania, as well as the long-term investment in military infrastructure and support in defence procurement. Minister reaffirmed Lithuania’s dedication to further coordination to meet German force requirement in order to host the brigade-sized unit in Lithuania in full composition as quickly as and in the best quality possible.
“Further improvement of the Host Nation Support and services to Allied capabilities remain among our top priorities. We have ongoing military infrastructure development projects matched to the identified requirements,” noted Minister A. Anušauskas. He also stressed the additional approx. EUR 240 million set to be allocated for military infrastructure and military mobility under the Temporary solidarity contribution law in 2023-2025.
Ministers also praised the ongoing Exercise Griffin Storm which sends a strong message of Lithuanian-German cooperation and strong German commitment to regional defence and security.
Ministers will proceed to observe the German-Lithuanian Exercise Griffin Storm in Pabradė alongside President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and members of the North Atlantic Council. According to A. Anušauskas, the exercise of the Lithuanian Armed Forces with assigned German capabilities is a guarantee of a quick and effective implementation of the NATO regional defence plans in the event of a crisis.
