2024-01-18 10:04:22
Foreign brigade in the Baltics
Lithuania’s president makes a promise to German soldiers
As of: 11:04 a.m. | Reading time: 3 minutes
WELT-Talk Special from Davos: Gitanas Nauseda – German combat brigade is absolutely important for Lithuania
WELT TV editor-in-chief Jan Philipp Burgard is at the World Economic Forum in Davos and speaks in a WELT-Talk special with the President of NATO partner Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda.
You can listen to our WELT podcasts here
In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is necessary, as the providers of the embedded content require this consent as third party providers [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (revocable at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can revoke your consent at any time using the switch and privacy at the bottom of the page.
The Bundeswehr is to station almost 5,000 German soldiers and their families in Lithuania. They are supposed to secure NATO’s eastern flank. Recently, however, there have been indications that both sides are struggling with difficulties. Now Lithuania’s president is venturing forward with an assurance.
Former US President Donald Trump’s successes in the Republican primaries have sparked unrest not only in Kiev, but also in the capitals of many NATO countries. Quite a few politicians and observers fear that Europe will have to support Ukraine against Russia without the all-important support from the USA and take care of its security alone if Trump succeeds in regaining the White House.
However, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda does not share these fears and at least does not expect any major upheavals within the defense alliance in such a case. In an interview with the news channel WELT on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Nauseda referred to the experiences they had with Trump during his first presidency until 2020: “This cooperation was very fruitful.”
That’s why he is “relatively optimistic” that, regardless of the question of who the next president of the USA will be, “there will be no fundamental changes in the basic themes of NATO,” said Nauseda.
also read
However, the president of the Baltic NATO country admitted that there would be significant problems if the USA stopped supporting Ukraine. “It is practically impossible to achieve efficient support for Ukraine without the help of the United States.” Europe must take on more responsibility, demanded Nauseda. The priority is to strengthen the defense industry and strengthen cooperation in this area.
Against this background, Lithuania’s president also countered all doubts in Berlin and Vilnius that were circulating about the planned stationing of almost 5,000 German soldiers and their families in his country until 2027. The Bundeswehr brigade is “absolutely important” for Lithuania’s security, he explained. And added: “As the country’s president, I can assure you that we will do everything we can to welcome not only the German soldiers, but also their families.”
also read
Nauseda contradicted media reports that Lithuania had major problems financing the necessary infrastructure for the brigade, from barracks to military training areas to daycare centers and schools for the Germans: “We will create all military infrastructure. We are committed to this by the end of 2026.” In addition, Lithuania will provide “all social infrastructure for German families.”
The president was also not concerned about reports that Army Inspector General Alfons Mais also sees major problems with the financing and equipment of the brigade on the German side.
also read
Nauseda said he doesn’t believe these rumors. “I trust our German friends, the assurances of the Defense Minister and Chancellor Olaf Scholz that all obligations will be fulfilled and implemented.”
Lithuania borders Belarus, which is an ally of Russia, and the Russian Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad. A narrow land corridor runs west between the two – the so-called Suwalki Gap, over which fighting could break out in the event of an attack. Germany’s stationing of troops in the country is a desired reassurance for the Lithuanians of their obligation to provide assistance.
1705574888
#Bundeswehr #Baltics #Lithuanias #President #promise #German #soldiers