“We are currently discussing the new defense concept with our NATO partners, therefore it is important that we act decisively together as an alliance and not as individual foreign ministers. It is important to be together during the process,” she said during a joint news conference with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
“If NATO decides that [the battalion] shall be reinforced to the level of a brigade, we, as the Federal Republic of Germany, will essentially contribute to that. I’ve understood that there is a necessity, there is a need, and Germany will take respective actions,” the German minister added.
Battalions of international allies were deployed in the Baltic countries and Poland back in 2017 as a way to deter Russia. NATO's multi-national battalion stationed in Lithuania is currently led by Germany, which has deployed approximately 900 troops in the country.
The region’s countries seek to reinforce those battalions to the level of a brigade in response to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.
"Security from Russia"
NATO’s strategy of deterrence, which had been in force thus far, was no longer suitable in the Baltic countries, Baerbock said adding that the Alliance had to be ready to combat a potential threat and defend itself immediately in this region.
“The previous NATO’s deterrence logic is no longer sufficient in the Baltic countries… Such an approach is no longer suitable,” the German foreign minister stated.
The experience of Ukrainian towns that had been attacked by Russian forces and later retaken by Ukrainian troops had shown that “security from Russia” was necessary, she stressed.
“Putin’s Russia forces to choose a new course,” Baerbock said.
“Response – in the first centimeter”
The German minister stressed that the German troops whom she would visit in Rukla, Jonava District, later on Friday, stood “shoulder to shoulder with Lithuanian soldiers”.
“Germany will continue to participate by contributing and reinforcing long-term presence of NATO troops,” she said.
Landsbergis emphasized in his turn that Russia’s actions had radically changed the security environment, which should be reflected in the decisions that would be adopted by the NATO summit in Madrid in the summer.
He noted that, in addition to more troops, Lithuania also needed more air defense systems, military equipment, and other weaponry.
“The most important change is a strategic change so as to make sure that we are no longer stuck in a position where we respond later if we are attacked. The response should be immediate, in the first centimeter,” the Lithuanian minister said.
Baerbock assured that those issues would be discussed “in the coming weeks”.