“The financial burden of this commitment will be financed from the German budget, but with the main focus on military expenses,” Ch. Lindner told reporters on Friday in Vilnius. “The host country is more responsible for expenses that are not directly related to our soldiers.”
On her part, Lithuanian Finance Minister Gintarė Skaistė, who participated in the joint press conference, said that discussions on the necessary infrastructure and its financing are still ongoing.
“The specific details are still under discussion,” said the minister.
Lithuania plans that the majority of the German brigade will be deployed in the country in 2026. The soldiers and their accompanying family members are planned to be accommodated in Vilnius, Rūdninkai and Rukla, but specific places have not yet been specified, as the discussions have not yet been completed.
The joint working group of the two countries agreed that the plan for the deployment of the German brigade in the country will be signed by December 22 of this year.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said that not only military, but also social infrastructure, such as schools and leisure spaces, will have to be prepared for the brigade coming to Lithuania.
According to him, this is necessary because the soldiers should rotate every three years, which means that their families will also come to the country.
The deployment of the brigade in Lithuania began to be discussed after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in order to strengthen the security of the region. The front command element of the brigade is currently deployed in the country.
Since 2017, Germany has also been leading the NATO international allied battalion deployed in Lithuania.
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2024-09-03 04:31:08
