Sources: Hundreds of additional troops are coming to Lithuania
Allies in regional security are strengthening the response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
After the Kremlin annexed Crimea, a German-led NATO international battalion was deployed in Lithuania. Not under the NATO umbrella, but on a bilateral basis, the US Battalion has been in Lithuania for several years without interruption.
With Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, both components will be expanded, with the “German” unit expanding to the brigade and the United States sending its second battalion this year. In addition, NATO is stepping up air defense in the Baltic States and expanding its military presence in the Baltic Sea.
The battalion usually has between half a thousand and a thousand soldiers, now the German-led unit in Lithuania has been strengthened to 1.5 thousand. soldiers. There may be about 4,000 in the brigade. soldiers – although the specific figures may be quite significant.
Madrid decisions
At the NATO meeting in Madrid, it should approve a new strategic concept, a declaration of leadership and other non-public documents setting out a commitment to what Lithuania and the other states of the eastern flank have sought to lead for several months.
The Lithuanian delegation to Spain is headed by President Gitanas Nausėda.
Diplomats and officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said that while the documents had not yet been signed (usually at the end of the summit), there were no major objections to strengthening the defense and initial plans to do so.
The NATO Strategic Concept, which will be changed 12 years later, should name for the first time that Russia is “the closest and most immediate threat to the security and stability of the Allies in the Euro-Atlantic region”, and Belarus should be named as an accomplice in the document.
This new threat assessment allows for a political decision on the front-line defense and the new plans required by the Alliance’s eastern flank.
“As the strategic environment changes, the same means will be used to achieve the goal,” said one diplomat, referring to the transition from a previously established deterrence to a defense policy.
Photo by Žygimantas Gedvilas / BNS / Visit of the Prime Minister to the NATO Front Forces Battalion in Pabradė
The documents should state that the battalions of the front forces in the eastern flank will be reinforced to the level of the brigades, and the current air policing missions should be supplemented by air defense forces.
New air defense capabilities in the region could emerge from not being on the same bases as air policing missions are currently operating. It is important that these additional capabilities are dedicated to specific defense tasks and can respond quickly to developments in the region.
NATO’s plans should also include all Allied forces assigned to the state. These forces will not necessarily be permanently or fully deployed in the Baltic States and other Allies, but will have headquarters, other front-line capabilities and pre-deployed equipment and ammunition, reducing response times to a few days.
Photo of the Lithuanian Armed Forces / NATO strengthens the security of the Baltic States, additional fighter jets are deployed in Lithuania
Some of the largest capacity is expected to flourish in the Eastern Flank in the long run, but this will depend on the capabilities and agreements of the specific suppliers and suppliers.
Additional capabilities are allocated to Lithuania by Germany, with which a bilateral agreement has already been reached, and the number of troops currently participating in the NATO Front Forces, as well as the Netherlands, may increase.
NATO’s new defense plans, which are expected to be approved in 2023, should be divided into several regions, detailing their defense solutions, the specific capabilities assigned to them and the timing of their response.
Country-specific training should be ongoing in your regions of operation and be prepared to perform tasks in those regions.
The summit may also approve the further establishment of a NATO Navy Rapid Reaction Battlegroup for the defense of the Baltic Sea.
NATO’s growing overall budget has also provided a major impetus for the implementation of new defense plans. According to sources, it is agreed that it will triple by 2030.
Probably the most sensitive unresolved issue in the minds of politicians, diplomats and officials gathered in the Spanish capital so far has been Finland’s and Sweden’s membership in NATO. It was reported on Tuesday evening that the two Scandinavian countries and their opposing Turkey had managed to reach an agreement, leaving the 31st and 32nd members of the alliance without any obstacles to joining.
Finland and Sweden will play a key role in NATO’s new defense plans and will undoubtedly strengthen the Baltic Sea region. Two powerful and state-of-the-art troops will bring tanks, fighter jets, submarines, anti-aircraft and anti-aircraft defense capabilities to the region’s forces.
The US is stepping up its forces in Europe
At the time, the United States’ national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said on Tuesday that the United States would strengthen its capabilities in NATO’s eastern flank – the Baltic states and the Balkans. Although this US decision is not linked to NATO’s commitments, it also intends to continue to report its details in Madrid.
15min According to the information, the United States intends to deploy brigades in Poland and Romania, and a battalion of one of the countries should appear in Lithuania, which should arrive in September. At present, the US heavy battalion 1-66 is already deployed in Lithuania, replacing the 3-66 battalion that spent almost a year in Pabradė this month.
Photo by the Lithuanian Armed Forces US military equipment was brought to the intermodal terminal in Kaunas
According to Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the Madrid bus has transformed NATO’s rapid reaction force into more than 300,000 troops in the future. soldiers.
To date, NATO has formed some 40,000 troops. the Rapid Reaction Force, the individual parts of which must respond to events within a period of 10 to 45 days. The smaller Very High Readiness Joint Task Force should respond within a few days.
NATO’s Eastern Wing has argued in the lunar months that such a reaction time is not enough – the Baltic states fall into the event of an attack that can be expected to receive little or no warning, so the Alliance must be able to defend itself from the first moment and have real power. resist the first blow.