Lithuania has agreed to buy 18 howitzers from France, both sides’ defence ministers announced on Monday.
Lithuania, a European Union and Nato member, will inject an additional €300m ($312m) into its 2022 defence budget as the Ukraine war ramped up security fears.
Lithuanian defence minister Arvydas Anusauskas tweeted alongside a photo with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu:
Lithuania will buy 18 Caesar MarktII howitzers from France.
They will significantly strengthen the Lithuanian armed forces’ defence capabilities.”
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – all Nato members and part of the former Soviet Union – have come to Ukraine’s defence with military hardware and humanitarian aid.
Lithuania has said it sent military supplies worth “tens of millions” of euros, including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, mortars, rifles, ammunition and other equipment. Lithuanians also crowdfunded over five million euros to buy Ukraine another Bayraktar drone.
