Germany’s Klingbeil stresses solidarity with Baltic states in Vilnius
German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil on Tuesday assured fellow NATO members Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia of continued German assistance in light of Russia’s expansionist ambitions, as he was in Vilnius for a two-day visit.
“The Baltic states can always rely on the solidarity and support of the Federal Republic of Germany,” said Klingbeil, who also serves as finance minister, after a meeting with his three counterparts in the Lithuanian capital.
Klingbeil noted a recent decision by the government to exempt defence spending from Germany’s strict debt rules, which would allow the country to massively increase investment in security in the long term.
He said those plans also include further development of a German brigade stationed in Lithuania.
Lithuanian Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius welcomed the plans which he said would strengthen security in Europe.
Klingbeil intends to pay a visit to the Bundeswehr’s Lithuania brigade himself, as well as to a multinational NATO battle group led by Germany in the country.
