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Lithuania to Insist on Deploying NATO Forces in Country

Sputnik News

20:45 19.05.2016(updated 20:55 19.05.2016)

Lithuania will insist on deploying NATO troops on its territory adding that it is the only argument against the forces trying to "make some mess" in the region.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – Lithuania will insist on deploying NATO troops on its territory, the country's foreign minister, Linas Linkevicius, said Thursday, adding that it is the only argument against the forces trying to "make some mess" in the region.

"We'd like to have our allies on our soil. This is tangible, visible, efficient argument, the only argument which can work. Because oral statements they are not impressive very much to those who are trying to make some mess. This is really nothing substantial, this is really minimum, but this is something that we would consider as a very important demonstration of reassurance," Linkevicius told reporters.

Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States were preparing to deploy four battalions of about 4,000 troops in the Baltics to counteract the perceived Russian threat.

Since 2014 the alliance has been building up its military presence in Europe – especially in Eastern European countries neighboring to Russia, using alleged Russian interference in Ukraine threat as a pretext.

Russia has many times warned the NATO that its provocative actions may harm regional and global stability.

© Sputnik