Lithuania: Agreement on rights of German troops signed

Lithuanian and German officials have signed an agreement on the rights of German troops, civilian personnel, and their families in Lithuania, BNS reports. The agreement was signed by the Lithuanian and German defence ministers, Laurynas Kasciunas and Boris Pistorius, as well as deputy foreign ministers Jonas Survila and Tobias Lindner, in Berlin. The agreement provides for the establishment of German schools, health care facilities, tax-free military canteens and stores, and military postal service and radio station in Lithuania. Also, the agreement regulates the movement of German troops, employment of local personnel, and taxation issues. Kasciunas said that the German troops would be accommodated at existing Lithuanian military bases near Vilnius until the completion of a new base in Rudninkai, BNS reported. Germany plans to deploy around 5,000 troops in Lithuania by 2027.