A Russian army lieutenant who took part in Russia’s war in Ukraine has fled to Lithuania and applied for asylum, TV3 reports. He was detained at Vilnius bus station, after which he applied for asylum. Earlier, the man had crossed the border from Belarus but was pushed back by border guards. In June 2023, a…
Latvia’s government has appointed Major General Andis Dilans as the new Chief of the Joint Staff of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) as of 1 November 2023, Baltic News Network reports. He will replace Major General Imants Ziedins, who will continue his military career in the Ministry of Defence. Dilans has been serving in…
Lithuania’s Prime Minister, Ingrida Simonyte, expressed confidence in Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, BNS reports. Earlier, Anusauskas was criticised by President Gitanas Nauseda and other politicians for allegedly disclosing restricted information about the purchase of tanks for the Lithuanian Armed Forces. Simonyte insisted that Anusauskas had not disclosed classified information but conceded that the minister should…
The US Senate has authorised the allocation of USD 228mn (EUR 208mn) of additional funding to strengthen security cooperation with the Baltic States in 2024, LETA reports. Latvian Defence Minister Inara Murniece said that the funding would allow the Baltic States to develop military capabilities and strengthen the security of NATO’s eastern flank. In 2022,…
Lithuania and Poland may close their borders with Belarus in the event of serious incidents involving the Russian mercenary group, Wagner Group, along the frontier, BNS reports. Reuters cited Poland’s Interior Minister, Mariusz Kaminski, as saying that such a possibility was being discussed with neighbouring countries. Lithuania’s Deputy Interior Minister, Arnoldas Abramavicius, confirmed that there…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda criticised Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas for sharing information on Lithuania’s plans to sign a letter of intent on the purchase of Leopard tanks from Germany, LRT reports. Nauseda said that the State Defence Council (VGT) had agreed that restricted information “should not be shared on Facebook right after the meeting.” He…
The Lithuanian government has allocated EUR 276mn from borrowed funds for military mobility and infrastructure projects in 2023, BNS reports. Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste said that the Defence Ministry would invest EUR 148mn and the Ministry of Transport and Communications another EUR 128mn in the first year of the investment programme. Total investments in military…
The Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) has received a new batch of cargo trucks and multi-purpose vehicles (MPV), the Defence Ministry announced, Baltic News Network reports. LGP received 53 new Peugeot Rifter MPVs. So far, LGP has received 90 Rifter MPVs, with the remainder expected to be delivered by the end of 2023. Lithuania is procuring…
Lithuania plans to sign a letter of intent to buy Leopard tanks from Germany, Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas announced, BNS reports. He noted that the acquisition would require sustainable financial sources. The minister said that the Leopard met the operational requirements best. Lithuania will acquire the tanks to create an army division. The Lithuanian parliament,…
