Germany to boost troop numbers at home rather than in Lithuania: report

Berlin has proposed ramping up its contribution to NATO forces by 3,500 troops, but based mostly in Germany rather than in Lithuania, despite earlier backing for additional forces to be stationed in the Baltics, the Financial Times has reported.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (second from left) speaks with soldiers, alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda (3rd from left), at Camp Adrian Rohn in Pabradė, Lithuania, where more than 1,000 Bundeswehr soldiers are stationed.

Photo: Michael Kappeler/dpa

The Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have recently called for the region to receive a massive boost in NATO presence to deter any potential aggression from Russia.

Earlier this month, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that his country was ready to strengthen its engagement with Lithuania and to "develop it towards a robust combat brigade,” after talks with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and the prime ministers of Latvia and Estonia.

But Berlin’s proposal is to earmark a brigade of 3,000 troops that could be deployed quickly to defend Lithuania if necessary, the Reuters news agency reported.

According to Reuters, the number of German troops stationed in Lithuania would be ramped up to 1,500, from 1,000 at the moment, which are part of a multinational battalion sent to Lithuania after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

Berlin’s proposal is a “good start for discussion,” Lithuania’s Foreign M inister Gabrielius Landsbergis was quoted as saying by the Financial Times.

“There is still a lot of space for more significant steps as the current security situation in the region remains dangerous,” he added.

(jh/gs)

Source: tvp.info, Reuters, Financial Times