Netherlands extended presence of its military in Lithuania for 2 years
The Netherlands will maintain a military presence of its military in Lithuania as part of NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) mission until late 2026, TASS reports
The Dutch Defence Ministry announced that, as before, up to 350 military personnel will be stationed in Lithuania.
“This is an important signal to our allies and to Russia,” Acting Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren said. “Our soldiers make a decisive contribution here to deterrence and defence. Together we’ll ensure the security of Europe.”
The Netherlands has been a member of the consolidated battalion under the German command since February 9th, 2017. Previously, the decision on the extension was made in 2021. The battalion also includes military personnel from Belgium, Norway and the Czech Republic. At the same time, the Netherlands is discussing with Germany the possibility of joining plans to deploy a German brigade in Lithuania on a permanent basis.
