Germany invites Lithuania to join NATO corps as founding member

Germany has decided to invite Lithuania to become a founding member of NATO’s Multinational Corps Northeast, which is based in Szczecin, Poland, the German government press service said on August 12.

Twenty-two NATO countries participate in the multinational corps. Germany, Poland and Denmark are currently its three founding members, with a leading and coordinating role.

Lithuanian troops have served in the corps since 2004, alongside 18 other countries.

“Together with Poland and Denmark, Germany wants to invite Lithuania as the fourth founding country in order to strengthen the corps in Szczecin. To this end, the Cabinet has adopted the relevant resolution. Lithuania’s accession to the corps [as a founding country] is intended to strengthen cooperation on NATO’s north-eastern flank,” the government press service said.

According to foreign media, the German government said upgrading Lithuania’s status would mark “an important milestone in the further development of the corps”. It would also broaden the distribution of “burden and responsibility within the corps”.

“Lithuania, as an ally located directly on NATO’s eastern flank, has considerable experience in addressing security policy challenges in the Baltic region. The expansion strengthens NATO’s defence and deterrence capabilities on its eastern flank and underlines the allies’ readiness to respond to security policy challenges in the Euro-Atlantic theatre. At the same time, Lithuania joining the founding countries sends a clear signal of cohesion and solidarity within NATO,” the government said.

The Multinational Corps Northeast was established by Germany, Poland and Denmark in 1999. It is responsible for NATO ground forces deployed on the alliance’s eastern flank and for commanding rapid-reaction forces in the north-east if they are deployed.

By Aghakazim Guliyev