Lithuania has announced a significant boost to its military arsenal in response to the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense in Vilnius revealed on Thursday that the Baltic state, a member of both the European Union and NATO, has secured a contract with German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch to procure an undisclosed number of submachine guns valued at €1.3 million.
The Ministry stated that the weapons, specifically the MP7A2 model, were selected for their tactical and technical features.
Lithuania perceives the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a direct threat to its national security, given its proximity to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Belarus.
In light of this, the Lithuanian government has significantly increased defense spending and has been intensively strengthening its military forces.
Germany plays a crucial role as a key partner in these efforts, with the Lithuanian armed forces already utilizing several German weapon systems.
Furthermore, there are plans to station a permanent armored brigade of the German army in Lithuania, further solidifying the military cooperation between the two nations.