Riga, 23 January 2024 (dpa/MIA) - The Lithuanian military plans to buy German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks for a new combat division, according to a directive issued on Tuesday.

Lithuania's National Security Council instructed the Ministry of Defence to hold purchase talks with the tank manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

Leopard 2 is "the most effective tank platform that meets all the criteria set by Lithuania," an advisor to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda told local media after the committee meeting on Tuesday.

The government also plans to discuss the tank order with other countries currently interested in purchasing Leopard 2 tanks.

No further details were given as to how many tanks are to be purchased, in which variant and at what cost.

Last summer, Lithuania's Security Council considered the possible purchase of tanks from Germany or other countries but did not reach a final decision.

Lithuania, a member of both the European Union and the NATO alliance, borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad as well as Russian ally Belarus.

The war in Ukraine is seen as a direct threat to national security in the Baltic state. Lithuania's government has responded to the war by increasing military spending and massively upgrading the army.

For example, an entirely new military division, including an armoured battalion, is to be established by 2030.

Photo: MIA archive