Lithuanian President: Russia has to be deterred with military force
The threats to the international security haven’t diminished, and that is why, according to Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, NATO has to move from partial security measures to creating a real military deterrence, as reported by the Latvian Delfi news portal.
“Unfortunately, after the meeting in Wales there haven’t been fewer threats. That is why the time has come to move from partial security measures to creating a real military deterrence. We expect that finally concrete security measures of collective defense will be approved in Warsaw, the measures that will deter Russia from the invasion of our region. We are talking about real military instruments – weapons and personnel and also coordination of the operations,” she said.
The President added that she is expecting the decision to deploy permanent multinational battalions of the allied forces in the Baltic countries and Poland, and also further decision on the deployment of multinational NATO brigades in Romania and Bulgaria.
According to Grybauskaitė the final decision which courtiers will control these battalions will be made at the summit in Warsaw.
“As for us [Lithuania], the decision has been made that the battalion will be under the control of Germany, but there is a high chance that it will be a mutual command of several courtiers and we would like to see it. That is why we are hoping that our battalion will consist of military from numerous countries including the USA and the countries of Benelux,” Grybauskaitė said.
The Lithuanian President stated that another military brigade will be stationed in the region “not far from the Lithuanian border”.