Concern about Putin and Lukashenko: Bundeswehr builds barracks in Lithuania - "The situation in Ukraine is serious"
Created: 12/28/2021, 6:34 PM
From: Astrid Theil
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht speaks to German soldiers from the NATO task force in Lithuania before Christmas.
© Kay Nietfeld / dpa
In Lithuania a barracks is to be built by Germany and the Baltic country.
This is part of securing NATO's eastern flank.
Berlin - Germany and Lithuania plan to build permanent barracks in the Baltic country.
The barracks should be part of the operation of the NATO battle group in Lithuania.
Soldiers from the multinational association are to be stationed together with Lithuanian units in the new facility.
This was confirmed by the operational command in Schwielowsee near Postdam.
The construction of the plant is planned near the city of Rukla.
At the request of the
German Press Agency
,
a spokesman said
that the planning costs for the project were in the single-digit millions.
The project is to be paid for jointly by Lithuania and Germany.
The total costs are currently not yet quantifiable.
Securing NATO's eastern flank: Bundeswehr builds barracks in Lithuania
The construction of the barracks is part of the safeguarding of NATO's eastern flank. This was initiated in response to the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea by Russia in 2014. Joint combat units were stationed in the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia as well as in Poland as part of an “enhanced forward presence”. However, these are replaced every six months. The reason: the NATO-Russia Founding Act does not permit the permanent stationing of Allied troops in Eastern Europe. As a so-called framework nation, Germany provides around half of the total of 12,000 NATO soldiers in Lithuania.
The new Federal Minister of Defense, Christine Lambrecht (SPD), had visited the German soldiers of the combat group in Rukla before Christmas.
“My first mission trip takes me to Lithuania quite deliberately,” said Lambrecht.
The visit by the Defense Minister has to be seen against the background of increasing tensions with Russia.
These have recently been evident in the form of the Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine, but also in the migration crisis fueled by Belarus on the borders with Poland and Lithuania.
Defense Minister Lambrecht in Lithuania: "At the same time, there is a need for deterrence"
Lambrecht is convinced that the tense situation must be resolved diplomatically.
“At the same time, however, a credible deterrent is required.
A very important signal.
Germany is making an important contribution to deterrence in the alliance, ”she said.
At the same time, the SPD politician affirmed the importance of solidarity among the Allies: "We stand firmly by the side of our partners and friends." The excellent cooperation will be continued.
Lambrecht also held talks with the Lithuanian Defense Minister during her visit.
“The situation in Ukraine is serious.
We are following them very, very carefully and I can understand and understand the concerns of our Baltic allies when you feel threatened, "summarized the SPD politician.
German soldiers in Lithuania: responsibility for good relations
The combat formation at Rukla is currently divided into two locations. By building barracks on the site of the military training area, the Bundeswehr expects more efficiency, relief for military traffic and freed up capacities for Lithuanian soldiers' own training programs. A spokesman for the operational command emphasized that the German troops could thus make “a contribution to improving the military capabilities” of the host nation.
As a framework nation in Lithuania, Germany has "assumed responsibility for deepening the good relations between the two countries and their armed forces," said the spokesman.
In this respect, the realization of the barracks "primarily serves this purpose".
The rotation principle of the troops of Germany and other NATO nations will be retained.
(at / dpa)
