Lithuania Signs Deal For Leopard 2A8 Tanks

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Lithuania’s newly appointed defense minister, Dovilė Šakalienė, signed an agreement on December 16 to procure 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks during an official visit to Germany. The deal, Lithuania’s largest military contract, is a key step in the country’s military modernization and aims to enhance NATO interoperability and regional security. During the visit, Šakalienė met with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to discuss defense cooperation, including the deployment of a 4,800-strong Bundeswehr heavy maneuver brigade to Lithuania in 2024. The tank acquisition was authorized by Lithuania’s State Defence Council prior to the October 27 election that brought Šakalienė to office. Additionally, Lithuania plans to purchase CV90 infantry fighting vehicles for its new Infantry Division, which will feature two battalions.

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