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RUKLA MILITARY BASE, Lithuania, Feb 17 (Reuters) – A German military convoy of 130 troopers and 60 autos reached Lithuania on Thursday, bringing virtually half of deliberate reinforcements for the nation’s German-led NATO battlegroup amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. President Joe Biden mentioned on Thursday there was now each indication Russia was planning to invade Ukraine, together with indicators Moscow was finishing up a false flag operation to supply a pretext, after Ukrainian authorities forces and pro-Moscow separatists traded hearth. learn extra
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda mentioned he was assured by German Chancellor Olof Scholz on Thursday in Brussels the German troopers are approved struggle to defend Lithuania.
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“The German military is on our territory to defend us, and if there is a risk to Lithuania, they’re actually able to do their responsibility,” Nauseda mentioned.
The German reinforcement operation will proceed till the top of the week, bolstering German forces in Lithuania by greater than 350 troopers and 100 autos, Enhanced Ahead Presence battlegroup commander Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel Andrae mentioned.
“We’ve confirmed that we’re able to bringing in forces at quick discover from lengthy distance,” he informed Reuters.
The Ukraine disaster has prompted the U.S.-led NATO alliance to shore up its presence alongside its japanese flank in member states, together with Lithuania, nearer to Russia or Ukraine.
The convoy of artillery and reconnaissance models set out on Tuesday from Jaegerbrueck in japanese Germany and travelled overland via Poland. It will likely be adopted by howitzers on heavy transport transporters within the subsequent 2-3 days.
“The allied navy presence in Lithuania is a critically vital deterrence issue (geared toward Russia),” Lithuanian Deputy Defence Minister Margiris Abukevicius mentioned on Thursday.
Norway will even enhance its half within the German-led battlegroup by 50-60 troopers for the following three months, bringing the whole variety of NATO troops there to 1,610, Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas mentioned.
Britain mentioned it might double the dimensions of its forces in close by Estonia the place it heads an identical NATO battlegroup. learn extra
NATO has arrange 4 multinational battlegroups in Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland in 2017 after Russia annexed the Crimea area from Ukraine.
With tanks and over 5,000 troops, the battlegroups are set as much as act as a tripwire and purchase time by holding off any assault till reinforcements arrive.
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Reporting by Janis Laizans in Rukla and Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; Writing by Andrius Sytas; Enhancing by Mark Heinrich and Richard Chang
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