US Army is sending thousands of troops and hundreds of pieces of military equipment to the Baltics. Tanks and armored personnel carriers are already in Latvia. On board the The Promise of Freedom ship arrived 300 American servicemen.
This is just the first batch. Within a week, about 3,000 US soldiers will arrive in this Baltic country. “The beginning of this week is unconventional,” mayor of Riga Nil Ushakov signed his selfie with an American tank on the background.
There were many VIPs at the unloading.
John O’Connor, US Army Major General:
“Today we are here to work together, to teach and to demonstrate our commitment. We are able to provide our allies with military equipment, any country, any time.”
The American officer admits that the Baltics need the equipment to deter the Russian aggression. Combat vehicles will be used in large-scale maneuvers Atlantis Resolve on the territory of the three Baltic states.
Raymond Vejonis, Latvian Minister of Defence:
“We, as the host country, unload, distribute and deliver equipment in Latvia and the Baltic States. This is important as it will prepare us for the implementation of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty if necessary.”
Lithuanian armed forces are also expecting replenishment. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that Lithuania will receive from the United States five Abrams tanks and a dozen other military vehicles. Earlier, Lithuania completed joint exercises with American soldiers called Joint Punch.
Now, the Lithuanian parliament is urgently considering a bill on the return of military duty.
Dalia Grybauskaite, President of Lithuania:
“State Security Council decided to temporarily resume the draft that will strengthen the country’s security. We need to create a military reserve. I remind you that this decision is primarily based on the desire of the own young people.”
Lithuanian MPs are to vote on the bill before the end of the month.
The Russian Federation could not leave unnoticed the active movement of US forces to its western borders. In the Stavropol region artillery exercises involving 500 soldiers were deployed, and combat training of intelligence units started in the Kaliningrad region.
Anastasia Yaumen, belsat.eu/en/, Vilnius
