When the heads of state of the NATO states - and the responsible ministers in their entourage - meet for the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 11th and 12th, Patriot units from the Bundeswehr will take over essential parts of the air defense at the request of the alliance. As the Federal Ministry of Defense announced, Patriot fire units from Slovakia and supporting units from Poland will be relocated to Lithuania.
In addition, Germany will, in close consultation with its partner Lithuania, NATO and other allies, bring in land, air and sea-based security capabilities that are already stationed on the alliance's eastern flank or can operate from Germany. This includes the German-led multinational Enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup in Rukla to secure NATO's eastern flank. The advanced command post set up in Rukla, whose task is to prepare exercises and the possible deployment of a combat brigade from Germany, can provide additional support.
„Die Bundeswehr wird mit ihren vielfältigen Fähigkeiten maßgeblich zur Absicherung des NATO-Gipfels beitragen“, sagte Verteidigungsminister Boris Pistorius. „Das zeigt erneut: Wir sind flexibel und da, wenn man uns braucht – auf Deutschland ist im Bündnis Verlass. Zusammen mit unseren Alliierten zeigen wir nach innen und außen Solidarität und Geschlossenheit.“
Um die bodengebundene Luftverteidigung in Vilnius zu ermöglichen, werde der Patriot-Einsatz im Rahmen der NATO enhanced Vigilance Activities in der Slowakei beendet, schreibt das BMVg. Seit März 2022 hätten sich deutsche Luftverteidigungs- und Infanteriekräfte an der Sicherung der Ostflanke in der Slowakei beteiligt. Der deutsch-niederländische Flugabwehrraketenverband sei (noch) in Sliač stationiert.
With the Patriot mission in Slovakia ending soon, the troops now have a perspective and a solid basis for planning, Pistorius continued. After their reliable and tireless work, the soldiers would get the breathing space that is urgently needed.
The security of Slovakia will remain of central importance for Germany in the future, writes the BMVg. Germany continues to participate in the Multinational Battlegroup - soon also with main battle tanks and with the delivery of MANTIS air defense systems for close range and additional air surveillance radars. The training for this has already started in Germany. In addition, Germany offered to support Slovakia's air defense through air policing by the Luftwaffe.
In addition, the ring exchange is continuing, in which Slovakia will receive 15 refurbished Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks from industrial stocks as a replacement for BMP-1, which the country gave to Ukraine.
Editors / gwh
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