Berlin (AFP) – 07/02/2022. 21:11
In support of NATO, German and British military reinforcements arrive in Poland and Lithuania
- Germany decides to send 350 soldiers to Lithuania
- Britain increases its military presence in Poland
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced Monday that her country will send an additional 350 soldiers to Lithuania to help strengthen the eastern flank of NATO, at a time when the West fears a Russian military invasion of Ukraine.
“We are strengthening the contribution of our forces in the eastern flank of NATO and sending a clear signal to our allies of our determination,” Lambrecht said, noting that the 350 soldiers would arrive “in a few days” in Lithuania, where the 500 German soldiers are already stationed within the framework of the NATO force.
The message to allies, she added, is “you can count on us.”
With the strengthening of the German military deployment, Lithuania is ranked second in terms of the number of German soldiers in it after Mali.
Berlin was criticized for refusing to send weapons to Ukraine despite Kiev’s repeated requests, while its recent decision to send 5,000 helmets to Kiev was mocked.
Britain sends 350 soldiers to Poland
For his part, the British Defense Minister announced Ben Wallace During a press conference with his Polish counterpart, Mariusz Blaszczak, Monday, that his country will send an additional 350 soldiers to Poland to contribute to strengthening the eastern wing of NATO.
Wallace said these soldiers will join about 100 British military engineers already deployed in Poland on the border with Russia, noting that their deployment is “to show that we can work together and send a strong signal that Britain and Poland stand shoulder to shoulder.”
Tensions are rising over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine after Russia massed tens of thousands of troops on its border with Kiev.
The world is witnessing an intense diplomatic round in an attempt to control the situation.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz headed to Washington to meet with US President Joe Biden, while German Foreign Minister Annalina Birbock is visiting Kiev to meet with her Ukrainian counterpart.
