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Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sunday that Germany was prepared to send additional troops to the Baltic states, ahead of a key trip to Washington, where he will seek to strengthen his influence in the Ukraine crisis.
““We are prepared to do whatever is necessary to strengthen Germany’s presence in NATO operations in the Baltic.”said Scholz in an interview with the ARD news agency.
Germany is leading a NATO operation in Lithuania and has about 500 troops stationed there.
Asked if the reinforcements could be agreed at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in mid-February, Scholz said: “We are ready to make a decision.”
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht had earlier said in an interview with the media group Funke that Germany was prepared to strengthen its presence in Lithuania.
“NIn principle, troops are available for reinforcements and we are now in talks with Lithuania about what exactly would be usefulSaid Lambrecht.
The promise comes amid growing fears that Russia may be preparing to invade Ukraine, with the West accusing President Vladimir Putin of amassing more than 100,000 troops at the border.
As Scholz faces growing criticism of Germany’s seemingly neutral stance on the crisis, he will travel to Washington for his chancellor’s first meeting with US President Joe Biden on Monday.
Scholz, who succeeded veteran German leader Angela Merkel, on Sunday doubled Germany’s refusal to send deadly weapons to Ukraine.
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