Lithuania readies to deploy permanent NATO brigade by 2027

Kęstutis Budrys, Chief Security Adviser to the Lithuanian President, has said that Lithuania would prepare for the permanent deployment of a NATO composite brigade on its territory by 2027.

Budrys made the statement on the air of the local radio station Žinių radijas (News Radio).

According to him, the country is now ready to receive additional forces from the alliance as reinforcements in case of an emergency deterioration of the security situation.

In addition, Budrys specified that full-scale infrastructure development is needed for the permanent deployment of the alliance's brigade, noting that plans for such development were discussed at a meeting of the State Defense Council. The infrastructure is expected to be ready by 2027.

Forward-based NATO composite battalions were deployed within the borders of three Baltic countries and Poland in 2017. Each of them has more than 1,000 servicemen. Vilnius, Warsaw, Riga, and Tallinn want to increase the presence of the alliance to the level of a brigade, that is, up to 5,000-6,000 military personnel.