The Netherlands will participate in the NATO mission in Lithuania at least until 2026, says the minister

The German-led NATO forward force battalion battle group (eFP) currently consists of soldiers from Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and other countries. However, when the German brigade is deployed in Lithuania, this unit should become part of it.

“I am very proud and happy to announce that the Netherlands has decided to extend our current eFP contribution mandate for another two years, until the end of 2026,” said the Dutch minister at the Ministry of National Defense (MoD) on Monday.

“It shows our commitment that we are determined to continue to ensure that we contribute to NATO’s credible deterrence,” she added.

According to K. Ollongren, one of the reasons why the Netherlands extended the mandate of the soldiers is the opportunity to closely monitor the deployment of the German brigade in Lithuania and evaluate the possibility of continuing its activities.

“We will be able to monitor this very carefully and, of course, discuss it with Germany and Lithuania. Also to find out if and how we could participate in the next round. So this will be discussed in the coming months and years,” said the Dutch Defense Minister.

Berlin plans to deploy the brigade in Lithuania until 2027. At the beginning of April, the initial element of the German brigade in Lithuania arrived in Lithuania. More than 20 soldiers have settled in Vilnius and are responsible for planning the brigade’s relocation to Lithuania and coordinating the requirements for military infrastructure.

The brigade deployed in Lithuania will consist of about 5 thousand. soldiers It is planned to integrate the international NATO battalion deployed in Lithuania in 2017 into the brigade in 2026.

“Patriot” – in early July

The Netherlands announced a little earlier that it will send the Patriot long-range air defense system to Lithuania for a few weeks of exercises in July. K. Ollongren clarified on Monday that they will be deployed in Lithuania from July 8 to 21.

When asked if there was a specific plan for when her country could send this system again, the minister said that this is a capability that is sorely lacking in Europe.

“We are confident that the next summit (…) will present further plans to strengthen air defense in general, including Patriot capabilities,” she said.

The minister also expressed the hope that such a move by the Netherlands will become an inspiration for other NATO countries as well.

For some time now, Lithuania has been asking NATO allies to rotate their ground-based air defense systems in implementation of the regional rotational air defense model agreed last year.

Lithuania has discussed the possibility of deploying air defense capabilities in the region with the USA, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, and Greece.

According to Lithuanian Minister of National Defense Lauryns Kasčiūnas, there are currently discussions with at least five countries, but he did not name them.

“With some – closer to an agreement, with others – further from an agreement. We are working to have a result”, said the minister.

However, he emphasized that now NATO’s priority is to provide air defense support to Ukraine.

The Patriots were last deployed in Lithuania last July, when the NATO summit was held in Vilnius.