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Merz Says Germany Will Defend Against ‘Any Threat' in Baltics

Merz Says Germany Will Defend Against ‘Any Threat' in Baltics

Bloomberg22-05-2025

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his military is prepared to defend the Baltic region against 'any threat' as he arrived in Lithuania to mark the establishment of a battle tank brigade to bolster NATO's eastern flank.
'We are determined together with our allies to defend NATO territory against any, any threat,' Merz told reporters in Vilnius alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.

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