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Lithuania considers doubling contribution to NATO response force

Xinhua, April 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

Lithuanian defense ministry has proposed on Tuesday to double its troops to NATO response force as of the next year.

Juozas Olekas, Lithuanian defense minister, has presented the proposal to the Seimas, the Lithuanian parliament, on Tuesday.

The minister said the decision was needed to enhance global security.

"Today we're asking the Seimas to approve that in 2017 we could send up to 507 troops and 455 troops in 2018," Olekas told Lithuanian national broadcaster LRT.

Currently, Lithuania's contribution to NATO response force consists of a company of 200 infantry troops and reinforcements.

Next year, Lithuanian plans to assign to NATO response force its troops from naval, special operations and land forces, as well as personnel from logistics unit and military police, LRT reported.

According to the alliance, NATO response force is one of the measures of the Readiness Action Plan, which is aimed to respond to security changes and strengthen collective defense.

Lithuania, a small Baltic State, has stepped up its defense capabilities since 2014 amid security tensions in eastern Ukraine. Endit