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22 Aug 24. NATO air base in Germany raises security level due to ‘potential threat.’ The NATO air base in the German town of Geilenkirchen has raised its security level “based on intelligence information indicating a potential threat,” it said late on Thursday.
“All non-mission essential staff have been sent home as a precautionary measure,” the base said in a statement on the social media platform X, without giving details. “The safety of our staff is our top priority. Operations continue as planned.”
A spokesperson for the base in Geilenkirchen said the threat level had been raised to Charlie, the second-highest of four states of alert, which is defined as “an incident (that) has occurred or intelligence has been received indicating that some form of terrorist action against NATO organisations or personnel is highly likely”.
It was the second time the base housing NATO’s fleet of AWACS surveillance planes raised the security level after an incident last week when a military base in nearby Cologne was temporarily sealed off as authorities investigated possible sabotage of the water supply.
The same day, the base in Geilenkirchen also reported an attempted trespassing incident that prompted a full sweep of the premises.
With regard to the suspected sabotage at the base in Cologne, the German military later gave the all-clear, saying test results had shown that the tap water was not contaminated.
NATO has warned in the past of a campaign of hostile activities staged by Russia, including acts of sabotage and cyberattacks. Russia has regularly accused NATO of threatening its security.
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In June, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the Western military alliance saw a pattern evolving and that recent attacks were a result of Russian intelligence becoming more active.
Several incidents on NATO territory have been treated as suspicious by analysts in recent years, among them the severance of a vital undersea cable connecting Svalbard to mainland Norway in 2022. (Source: Google/Reuters)
22 Aug 24. Switzerland approves participation in EU PESCO mobility and cyber projects. The Bundesrat, Switzerland’s Federal Council, approved the country’s participation as a third state in the European Union’s (EU’s) Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) Military Mobility and Cyber Ranges Federation projects on 21 August, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) announced in a press release later the same day. Co-ordinated by the Netherlands, the PESCO Military Mobility project aims to facilitate armed forces’ movements through standard administrative procedures, allowing applications for cross-border transport and deployments to be processed and approved within days. The DDPS expects this to simplify Swiss deployments abroad, for example for training or peace support operations. Asked whether Swiss participation in the PESCO Military Mobility project would allow EU members’ convoys to move through Switzerland, DDPS spokesperson Mireille Fleury told Janes on 22 August, “It is already possible, under certain conditions, for EU member states to travel through Switzerland to transport equipment. The Military Mobility project is solely intended to simplify administrative processes in international co-operation between authorities. Participation in the project does not entail any obligation or automaticity and respects Switzerland’s obligations regarding neutrality. Participation has no impact on national decision-making procedures, and Switzerland will continue to assess and decide on applications on a case-by-case basis.” The PESCO Cyber Ranges Federation project aims to improve international co-operation in cyber defence and to connect several countries’ computer simulation environments to create more complex and realistic training. This is expected to improve the quality of training and increase interoperability, both technically and organisationally, as well as advance cyber research and development. (Source: Janes)
20 Aug 24. Lithuania-Germany: Construction of base for German troops will likely increase ‘grey zone’ threats. On 19 August, Lithuania started the construction of a military base which will house 4,000 German troops in the Rudninkai forest (Šalčininkai, Varėna and Vilnius district municipalities). The authorities intend for the base to be ready for the 45th brigade of the German Army in 2027, marking the first permanent foreign deployment of German troops since the Second World War. Located close to the Lithuanian-Russian border, it will aim to deter a potential Russian attack on Lithuania alongside other such NATO deployments in the region. Also on 19 August, the first troops of the German 21st Rapid Reaction Brigade arrived in Lithuania for an international exercise at the Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė (Švenčionys district municipality). We assess that Russia will almost certainly see the growing German presence as a provocation. Moscow will highly likely respond by continuing its ongoing ‘grey zone’ campaign, which could realistically involve sabotage plots, disinformation and espionage in both Lithuania and Germany. (Source: Sibylline)
19 Aug 24. Lithuania begins construction of largest military site in its history. The forthcoming infrastructure will house a German brigade in the Rūdninkai Training Area, in the south-west of the Baltic State.
Lithuania military officials will gather today (19 August 2024) to mark the foundations of the soon-to-be “largest piece of military infrastructure in the history” of the country – the site will provide a permanent base for a future German brigade.
The site is situated at the Rūdninkai Training Area, in the south-west of the Baltic State. The moment will be commemorated with a capsule burying ceremony to initiate the first phase of construction.
Stretching 170 hectares, the forthcoming military campus will cost the government €125m ($137.9m) according to a contract signed in early August. A Vilnius-based construction company, Eikos Statyba UAB, will develop the site ahead of the initial operating capability of the German brigade scheduled to arrive in 2025.
Lithuania has undertaken numerous major construction projects across its territory to support allied contingents based in the country, bilaterally or under the auspices of Nato’s Forward Presence across its Eastern flank.
Besides German forces – the largest foreign force on Lithuanian territory, with 4,800 personnel – the Baltic nation has also agreed to establish a permanent base to accomodate US rotational units based at Pabradė, located in the south-east.
Lithuania’s German Brigade
In December 2023, the German Ministry of Defence signed an agreement to station a permanent brigade in Lithuania, arriving in 2025 and reaching full operating capability by 2027.
It will comprise three major combat units: the Bavarian 122 Armoured Infantry Battalion, the North Rhine Westphalia-based 203 Tank Battalion and the multinational Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Lithuania.
Nearly two months ago, the German MoD purchased 105 units of the latest Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks to be deployed as part of the new brigade, demonstrating a thorough commitment to supporting the Nato alliance on its Eastern flank with Russia.
Enhanced Forward Presence
Until the brigade is operational, the eFP battle group will continue to hold its position in the Batlic State. This contingent has been well-supported by the authorities.
Under Project Upper Neris Terrace, Lithuania has provided capacity to host 3,000 troops: 1,000 from the Lithuanian Iron Wolf Brigade – comprising artillery and logistical support battalions – as well as 2,000 German personnel from eFP.
The starting design for this site is worth approximately €6m ($6.42m) and it will be implemented by the Turkish company, Denzay. Lithuania will halve the cost with Germany. (Source: army-technology.com)
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