This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/russia/593952-lithuania-deployment-patriot-missiles/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| NATO bringing missiles closer to Russia – member state | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US-made Patriot surface-to-air systems will be deployed in Lithuania this year, the defense chief said | |
| NATO will station US-made Patriot anti-air missile systems in Lithuania during 2024, the Baltic country’s defense minister has announced. | NATO will station US-made Patriot anti-air missile systems in Lithuania during 2024, the Baltic country’s defense minister has announced. |
| Lithuania shares a border with Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad, and with Russia’s ally Belarus. | Lithuania shares a border with Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad, and with Russia’s ally Belarus. |
| “This year, the rotational air defense system will finally become operational, at least partially,” Arvydas Anusauskas said during a press conference in Vilnius on Thursday, as quoted by the state broadcaster LRT. | “This year, the rotational air defense system will finally become operational, at least partially,” Arvydas Anusauskas said during a press conference in Vilnius on Thursday, as quoted by the state broadcaster LRT. |
| “Our goal is to have a rotation similar to the air policing mission,” the minister added, referring to the regular patrol flights by NATO aircraft in the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. | “Our goal is to have a rotation similar to the air policing mission,” the minister added, referring to the regular patrol flights by NATO aircraft in the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. |
| “This principle would not be a one-off thing for several months but would cover all of our calendar months and significantly increase our air defense capabilities,” Anusauskas said. | “This principle would not be a one-off thing for several months but would cover all of our calendar months and significantly increase our air defense capabilities,” Anusauskas said. |
| Last year, the US and its allies in Europe delivered several Patriot batteries to Ukraine as part of efforts to back Kiev during its conflict with Moscow. | Last year, the US and its allies in Europe delivered several Patriot batteries to Ukraine as part of efforts to back Kiev during its conflict with Moscow. |
| The Washington-led bloc has deployed additional forces to Eastern Europe and the Baltic states in recent years, citing Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned last month that the Western alliance “must prepare for a confrontation that could last for decades.” | The Washington-led bloc has deployed additional forces to Eastern Europe and the Baltic states in recent years, citing Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned last month that the Western alliance “must prepare for a confrontation that could last for decades.” |
| Russia, for its part, cited NATO’s continuing expansion eastward and the bloc’s cooperation with Kiev as one of the root causes of the current conflict. Russian officials have repeatedly stressed that Moscow views NATO military units near its border as a national security threat. | Russia, for its part, cited NATO’s continuing expansion eastward and the bloc’s cooperation with Kiev as one of the root causes of the current conflict. Russian officials have repeatedly stressed that Moscow views NATO military units near its border as a national security threat. |
| In January, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that the stationing of additional foreign forces in Lithuania “only leads to the escalation of military tensions.” | In January, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that the stationing of additional foreign forces in Lithuania “only leads to the escalation of military tensions.” |