Germany to increase permanent military presence in Lithuania

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Defence has said that the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces of Germany) will increase its permanent presence in Lithuania amid current events in Ukraine and strengthen the battle group there to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank.

"Besides the forces in Slovakia, the Bundeswehr has committed to increase permanent presence in Lithuania and is strengthening the combat group there," TASS reports on September 20 referring to the ministry’s message on Twitter.

"This also includes strengthening the naval presence in the Baltic Sea and strengthening air patrols on NATO’s eastern flank in the Baltic region," the ministry added.

The Lithuanian Defence Ministry said on September 13 that the Baltic Republic and Germany are jointly working on projects to expand the military infrastructure of the Lithuanian army to receive the NATO brigade, which will be formed by the German command.

The ministry said that Vilnius and Berlin will also agree on the issue of joint purchases of weapons.