German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Vilnius on Tuesday, on his first official visit to the Baltic countries to address your aspiration to have more permanent NATO presence.
Scholz first met with the Lithuanian president, Nauseda Gypsiesto later meet the prime minister, Ingrida Simonyteand with the Latvian Prime Minister, Krisjanis Karinsand the Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas.
Local media claimed that Scholz and the Baltic leaders discussed the request of the three countries bordering Russia and Belarus to have at least one NATO military brigade permanently stationed in their territories.
Strengthening NATO’s eastern flank with troops capable of actively defending the Balts will likely be part of the new strategic concept that the countries of the alliance will adopt at the end of June in Madrid.
A senior Latvian official who requested anonymity told Eph that the stationing of a NATO brigade in each country will probably be approved and that this will serve as basis for the future dispatch of an alliance division to each Baltic state.
“Could be a local brigade of about three thousand soldiers, another from NATO with a similar amount with the option, in case of a serious threat, to reinforce those units with another brigade,” the source stated.
Lithuanian media also quoted Asta Skaisgiryteadviser to President Nauseda, according to which Scholz will express his support for strengthening NATO’s presence in the Baltic countries by sending a brigade.
“I think that if the chancellor comes to Vilnius he does it with news, I don’t think he comes for nothing”told the Lithuanian public broadcaster about the visit of the head of the German government.
The NATO Enhanced Forward Presence group in Lithuania consists of a unit of German soldiers, the one in Latvia is built around Canadian soldiers and in Estonia with soldiers from the United Kingdom.
Following his meeting with the Baltic leaders, Scholz plans to visit the German contingent at the Pabrade military base before returning to Berlin later on Tuesday.
(With information from EFE)
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Source-www.infobae.com