VILNIUS (dpa-AFX) - Lithuania wants to buy Leopard 2 main battle tanks from Germany for a new division of its army. On Tuesday, the National Security Council of the EU and NATO country instructed the Ministry of Defense in Vilnius to hold corresponding talks with the manufacturer. The Leopard 2 is "the most effective tank platform that meets all the criteria set by Lithuania", an advisor to head of state Gitanas Nauseda told Lithuanian media reports after the committee meeting. Talks are also to be held with other countries wishing to purchase the Leopard 2 tank manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

No further details were given as to how many tanks are to be purchased, in which variant and at what cost. The Security Council had already examined the possible purchase of tanks from Germany or other countries last summer

- but without making a final decision. The Lithuanian

procurement authority for military equipment had also sent a letter of intent to the Federal Ministry of Defense.

Lithuania borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Russia's ally Belarus. The war in Ukraine is seen as a direct threat to national security in the Baltic state. The government in Vilnius has therefore increased military spending and is massively arming the army. For example, a new armed forces division, including an armored battalion, is to be established by 2030./awe/DP/mis