"We are ready to defend NATO's territory," says Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, according to Süddeutsche Zeitung. This statement comes in a historic context.
For the first time in NATO's history, Germany has made a decision to send army soldiers to another European country for permanent deployment. Over 5,000 German soldiers are being placed in NATO ally Lithuania, just ten miles from the Russian border.
Directly Addressing Putin
This decision is a direct response to Russian aggression against Ukraine and escalated rhetoric against several European countries. It is also a direct message to the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin, as Boris Pistorius announces the deployment of German troops to the Baltics.
"We are sending a clear signal to all who may threaten peace and security in Europe," says the defense minister.
Fear of Retaliation
The Lithuanian army consists of only 15,000 soldiers. Therefore, Germany's decision is a much-welcomed one, especially with Russia on the other side of the border.
Tensions between Russia and Lithuania have been high over the past year, particularly after the NATO member halted cargo traffic through the country en route to Kaliningrad last year.
Last summer, Lithuania was on high alert for Russian retaliatory actions, and in August this year, the country, along with Latvia and Poland, was threatened with nuclear weapons by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
"We will use them immediately if aggression is directed against us," he stated, according to the state news agency Belta.
Lavrov: "They Are Desperate"
Putin recently dismissed warnings from NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. President Joe Biden that Russia plans to invade more countries if it defeats Ukraine, while military buildup occurs along the Russian-Finnish border.
This message was reiterated yesterday by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
"The fact that serious people like the President of the United States are saying this out loud says a lot about their desperate situation," says Lavrov, according to Sky News.
By 2027, the German troops are expected to be fully stationed in Lithuania.
