A Norwegian mechanized infantry platoon of 60 arrived in Lithuania on Sunday, February 27, part of a wider NATO buildup in the Baltic region following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Norwegian troops will join the alliance’s enhanced forward presence (eFP) battlegroup in Lithuania, deployed since 2017 in response to Russia’s takeover of the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine. Norwegian enforcements also include four CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, three of which were transported by a separate plane, an Ukrainian-made Antonov An-124.
Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas said that the current security situation requires an additional response, so the reinforcement from Norway is particularly necessary, and is “a clear demonstration of the Allies’ commitment to our security”.
Since 2017, about 140 Norwegian troops with Leopard 2 A4 tanks, CV 90 30 Mk IFV infantry fighting vehicles and support elements have been deployed in Lithuania as part of the German-led eFP battalion. Normally around 1,200 troops are deployed in Rukla for one rotation, but currently, the NATO forces are reinforced by an additional 350 troops from Germany.
Following Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the rising tensions in the region, the Netherlands is also contributing an additional 70 troops to the battalion Lithuania. “Every country that has contributed forces to the NATO eFP battle group in Lithuania is increasing its capabilities,” Anušauskas said.
The size of NATO battlegroups in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are set to almost double from 3,400 troops at the start of the year to more than 6,000 in the near future. KAM/LRT.lt
