The Netherlands is sending Patriot long-range air defense systems to Lithuania to take part in a bilateral military exercise.
For several weeks, the Lithuanian Armed Forces will train alongside Dutch service members to uphold peace in the Baltic.
“We are thankful to the Netherlands for consistently contributing to the Baltic and especially Lithuania’s security,” said Laurynas Kasciunas, minister of national defense for Lithuania.
Vilnius asks NATO allies to deploy ground-based air defense systems in a rotating schedule. The arrangement was agreed upon by NATO members in 2023 during a meeting in Brussels to strengthen the alliance’s defense capabilities in the eastern flank.
Kajsa Ollongren, the Dutch government’s minister of defense, said the Patriot system’s presence in Lithuania contributes to NATO’s air defense readiness and strengthens the nation’s partnership with eastern allies.
In January, the Netherlands, together with Germany and Poland, signed an agreement to remove red tape that could slow down the cross-border movement of troops and weapons to the eastern flank in case of a conflict with Russia.
The agreement ensures that NATO allies and the United States can quickly respond to threats and send military reinforcement from the Netherlands through Germany to Poland.
