Resignation submitted: Lithuanian Defense Minister leaves

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Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas has tendered his resignation. Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte received the corresponding letter from the 60-year-old on Friday, the State Chancellery in Vilnius said.

The reasons for the dismissal were initially not disclosed – and Anusauskas himself made no comment. It remained unclear whether Simonyte would accept his resignation. The head of government of the Baltic EU and NATO country will comment on this on Monday, Lithuanian media reported, citing the State Chancellery.

Military spending has increased since the war in Ukraine

In Lithuania, ministers are appointed and dismissed by the president, on the recommendation of the head of government. Anusauskas plans to meet President Gitanas Nauseda on Saturday.

Lithuania borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Russia’s ally Belarus. The war in Ukraine is seen as a direct threat to national security in the Baltic state. The country has therefore increased its military expenditure and massively armed its army.

Germany plays a key role in this. Lithuania is likely to become the focus of the Bundeswehr’s military involvement in the coming years. Since 2017, Germany has led a NATO battle group in the Baltic state with about 1,600 soldiers, about half of whom come from the Bundeswehr. Now the federal government wants to permanently station a combat-ready brigade there with about 4,000 soldiers. (SDA)

Source: Blick