expect the wagner events to have on the battlefield and ukraine, and german minister, the story is, i was just ask, why did germany change its decision about having permanent troops based and lithuania? was this at all tied to the wagner events over the weekend? or was us in motion already before? thank you. i think what we're seeing in the rest of the last days demonstrates the fragility of the german regime, of course, of this, the sites a week ago. so i have a review when that ard, for lots of german reasons. i was wondering i'm sorry, it's quite save the moment that we see this new weakness all the rest of the same as those of them, the sites. how, how difficult, and they do this for a prison pieces to be reliant on nursing. that is the construct extra turn, a gasping. and it also demonstrates that's a it is hard to predict exactly what them out happened in the next days and weeks

about the we should not make the mistakes that we are. and that is the main thing, their actions. so we need to continue to provide support to, to ukraine, and that's exactly what nathan nathan laws are doing with a mr. support, but also support for the long term and the docs in way. what we can say today about the effects on the bottom field in your print to your question. um it is love re to really change of our position what i want to attend. what i did emphasize today was to say, we are willing to do that on the 2 preconditions. and the one is of course the infrastructure which is great in government, is willing and prepared to provide as soon as possible. and we agreed to build up the brigade in the same speed like improving like building up the infrastructure

succeeds and design. yeah. and the 2nd part is very important to regarding and looking to install the back of costs sector has a certain type of interest and very important interest to. so we said he has to have is a part of the possibility to maintain military flexibility of the eastern flag, which is very important to so if he does not disagree, if he doesn't disagree, we will go on and proceed in that way. from my side, they can only assure you that's all part of the job they'll do as good as possible and as quick as possible. meaning the elements for infrastructure in order to accommodate the good size. presence of children troops in my country. thank you. we have time for one last question, please. since you very much like a fish the press agency, i have a question for the secretary general. first of all,

it does need to need to react in any way under recent developments in russia because it hasn't no data, for example. so twisted yesterday, just drinking the eastern flank of nato. right now, if the wagner troops will set the rules, is that an option from your point of view of it and the consequences for the nature of rush i found in x? and my 2nd question to you would be, what message goes out from the drum and then deployment of the gentleman who gave it was announced. i mean, this story is today, what message goes out to mr. poochie and mr. lucas hankle from the deployment and, and said it was a question on the big day to um, with the, the, uh, the condition is that lead to any uh, built into structure for the brigade. um by when will that be finished?

so let me start by saying that we of course, very much welcomed the german leave, the shape which has been demonstrated throughout the extra and long time about the it's so very much enhanced by the german announcement to today because the german doesn't about the group, but also more of german troops. the point here shows a strong german commitment to our collective defense. it's our shared security thing and it's part of the other page. so nathan, which has taken place since 2014 with the higher it and that's all forces. but also with more appointments of, uh, come up there, the natal troops in the eastern part of the lines including the buck groups on one of them is that german above to pay in any day. no. so there's some sites german leadership, a german or commitment 12 or tons of empty the bomb. i mean also demonstrates the

value of a move to the hospital and they to commitments to their country. like a likely nathaniel, it's sense of course i message our presence here and also the exercise we just watched over and they threw event. and this on the nate to capability to defend every inch of the story. and the reason we do that is, of course, both to provoke your conflict for the just to prevent the conflict because of principles. the parents is about preventing war is about preventing conflict is about preventing the fact i'm for serving a piece of this is not only about forward precedence, which is important, but it's also about a position to equipment supplies, a higher ed this on exercises. so it's all of this together, but also by significant air unable a power, and that's also fits into the issue oh and defense. i think of course non base a defense systems are important, but we have to understand that's

a mean i'll have this rotation model in sites for the defense way which, which can make it easier for us to switch from air policing to and the fence, the air force is also part of the defense unable forces can also provide a significant to air defense get produced on very short notice. so uh uh, this is uh the german announcement this um, as well comes on the, on the, on his part of the test done. uh, because i placed on a through that are taking place over several years. one more thing about this is that we will also make important decisions after this uh, visitors, and so i'm its uh on uh, on the then you for structure then you of course, mobile and also a with trans that's well then they could specific forces to protect specific territories, this is the 1st time since actually the cold war with where we have ones that have a glance link to specific forces to protect specific categories of them. the 1st question was on the so yeah, well 1st of all,

i think it's a bit early to say exactly a repulse a things myself of all the 2nd we are of course only putting very closely on the, on the we are able to react quickly if there is a need at the same farm. i think it is important to remind you all that this is about internal rushing, matters on the, on the, on day for what nathan's focus on is to support ukraine. it demonstrates the fact data till the end of the, the, the rest of the machine. but it's not for me to, to, in, in, in the we, in, in those issues. that's a russian. my 3rd was not this one. a thought is to not be intimidated. no fee to prevent that from continue to provide and presenting support for ukraine. and also of course, to have the necessary it depends on the fence we have that's all that i think we have to increase the presence over the years and with the drum,

the nonsense here we have some old example of how all of us are increasing their presence, but again, it's not only bump preston's, it's all about the ability to really wanting indications and then react quickly the space needs on this exercise demonstrates intact to my part of the question. we all simplify the procedures to technical proceeds of legal procedures in order to be able to finalize the building, coughing, 1st, stop shop by 2026, but that will be a lot to angry. if i'm in a self defense which is sitting in front of me, they will find the license entities into 5. anyway, we have for strong political commitments in the the to know to find out the necessary financial resources and all. but we know that to be able to finance the needs of infrastructure, but of course hand in hand. modernization all follow on for us. this is very

important. priority to us to thank you. the press conference is over. i wish everyone a pleasant afternoon. you have been watching nato secretary general against owenberg, lithuanian president announced data and german defense minister, 5th story, a speaking in power up pop for by the lithuanian. excuse me. in the past few hours, germany has announced that it is ready to station around $4000.00 additional troops in with waiting on a permanent basis to strengthen nato's eastern border. that's on top of the $1000.00 german troops already ground there. the offer, coming after lithuania as president called for a stronger nato presence in his country. the military alliance is next summit is set to be held in with winning capital. in 2 weeks time, the w process bureau chief, alexander phenomena is in lithuania. she has been following this press conference and these developments. so walk us through the key agreement,

alexandra and what your impressions were after hearing these leaders speaking. well my 1st impression was i have to say that despite saying and all of them stressed that that need to and allies are monitoring what's happening in restaurant and an umbrella. ruth, i think it's fair to say that they are concerned about the situation there. and that is why at least we in yeah, is uh, call me on a to, to father a boost its presence here. and also to be that the, not only the number of its troops, but also the air defense capabilities. the major take away is the decision that was announced today is the decision by the german defense minister to permanently deploy for thousands german soldiers to least one year. and that is, of course, a very important decision for this small country. it's the army consist of $20000.00 soldiers and now getting additional $4000.00 soldiers being deployed here

on the permanent phases. it is a big deal, however, and this is also watts. and then is step is store use stress to do in case press conference. this is based on the precondition that the infrastructure, that's a, a, the german brigade woods needs is a, has to be built and it is expected to be in place in 2026. we also heard the german defense minister asked whether or not this was a change in position and rather you with us, why the change in position to tell us a little bit about how big a deal this particular permanent deployment is for germany. if we look at the overall policy that the country is on, what is the decision today was a suddenly a surprise because in the last months and weeks at the german position was a while, we ready to provide equipment and soldiers. but on the rotation basis,

we don't bones to base gates and lisa in yet permanently. so the fact this change of mind, this decision today is a surprise and very telling i could imagine that the pressure was growing on a german government to, to change its times. and to make this promise. however, a german defense minister restore your thoughts to the question, what, what's the motivation to announce the decision today? just to saying that to, of course, it's clear as he put it. that said, germany as an important ally, as the biggest economy in the europe wants to contribute. and it's determined to strengthen the defenses on nato's eastern slang. so we didn't get the on. so whether the recent events in russia were the reason for germany to now announce that there are going to permanently deploy a robust gate totally through e mail. and we know the german soldiers, they're already there in the 20

a and participating in joint exercises with their lithuanian counterparts on a regular basis. you have a chance to observe one of those exercises. let's have a look and then we'll get perspective for you there after the training to side side by side is russia attacks these german soldiers and their lease william comrades will have to work together to repel the sold. that's why they were practicing here. under cover of the training ground facing a number of challenges, you have different standards regarding tactics that you have to bring together and harmonize. basically that when i get my order, as everyone knows what i'm talking about and what i want, and that is something we have to keep working on just a cigarette, the opportunity for us to chain together with the gentleman forces our comrades. and of course, this is the main goal for this exercise is due, so our readiness and into it that the capable to act against, and you forget cx,

as i started with the temporary deployment of soldiers and heavy equipment from germany's 41st mechanized infantry brigade, they are the reinforcements made a promise, least when you're off to the beginning of russia's war on ukraine. this training ground, it's just about 20 kilometers from the border with villarreal is a key russian allies that served as a launch bed for poor teams. invasion though, if you crane only days ago, the kremlin said it had started to position tactical nuclear weapons there. and this context, the recent developments and rush out of certainly a firm least to a new sense of being extremely vulnerable in the face of an unstable and aggressive neighbor. the permanent deployment of the german brigade has been a constant source of friction between the 2 countries. but soldiers and commanders here in colorado say they are not interested in talking politics, a speaker mando mcknight soon for brigade,

for one i concentrate on my own brigade costs and that would comment on those. but i also have to make it very clear that since 2017, we have deployed bunch of groups along nato's eastern flank. we have enhanced our interpret ability and, and i think we have already at that time. so know that occasions and talking to officer, such as the 2 leader kept merits. you realize they know the stakes are high here. there's no difference in defending list way new from defend, defending germany. when it comes to me a moment, this is nato territory and we always ready to come back if needed. so this training exercise is one of many drills taking place in europe. but it's a crucial one to help natal forces to improve their ability to respond to any contingency that's very short notice. so now we have this announcement, alexandra, as we've heard germany saying it's ready to station around $4000.00 additional troops in lithuania, on a.