Sunday 19th December 2021
Minister in Lithuania
Lambrecht relies on deterrence in the Baltic States
The new Defense Minister Lambrecht carefully chooses her first destination for a trip abroad: amid tensions between NATO and Russia, she visits the eastern border of the defense alliance in Lithuania. There she explains her strategy for dealing with Putin and Belarus.
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht relies on diplomacy and credible deterrence to protect NATO’s eastern flank. “My first mission trip takes me deliberately to Lithuania,” said the SPD politician in Rukla, Lithuania, where she visited German soldiers from the NATO Combat Group (eFP) in the country. She affirmed the importance of solidarity among the Allies: “We stand firmly by the side of our partners and friends.” The excellent cooperation will be continued.
The trip takes place against a background of growing tensions with Russia. Lambrecht said at a joint press conference with the Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas that common challenges had been discussed. These are diverse. “We spoke intensively about the situation on the Belarusian border,” she said. “The situation in Ukraine is serious. We are following it very, very closely and I can understand and understand the concerns of our Baltic allies when you feel threatened.”
She is convinced that the tense situation must be resolved diplomatically. “At the same time, however, credible deterrence is required. A very important signal. Germany and its troops at eFP are making an important contribution to deterrence in the alliance,” said Lambrecht. “We in NATO are ready to stand up for the security of our allies resolutely and unanimously.” In the alliance and also in the EU, there must be a united appearance and coordinated positions.
Anusauskas said Russia should not be allowed to draw red lines. It is also unacceptable if the leadership in Moscow wanted to negotiate areas of influence in Europe or put a withdrawal of the NATO partners from the eastern member states of the alliance on the table as a negotiating goal. He said his country was ready to send arms to Ukraine.