Germany is in charge of the Lithuania-based multinational EFP Battlegroup to secure the alliance’s eastern flank. The EFP has between 1,500 and 1,700 soldiers, around 850 of whom are German.
On Tuesday, Pistorius will observe the “Griffin Lightning” exercise at the Pabrade military training area, during which around 600 Bundeswehr soldiers and Lithuanian soldiers will practice defending Lithuania against a potential aggressor.
Political talks with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte and Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Vilnius.
The EFP combat group has been stationed in Lithuania since 2016. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine a year ago, further combat units for the defense of Lithuania were set up under the term Enhanced Vigilance Activities (EVA).
At the Munich Security Conference in February, Pistorius called for a further increase in the international armed forces in Eastern Europe.
