In the process of preparing the site for large-scale military maneuvers of the North Atlantic Alliance called “Defender Europe 2020”, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence noted a very controversial decision.
Through the efforts of the military department, a hundred farmers and companies have lost a total of 25 thousand hectares of private agricultural land in Mariampolė and Alytus counties. In this way, 60 per cent of the territory required for the largest NATO exercises in Eastern Europe since the end of the Cold War has been obtained.
At the same time, the Ministry recognizes that civilian agricultural facilities in this area could be damaged during the manoeuvres.
As previously reported by News Front, the exercise “Defender Europe” will be held next summer. In this regard, the U.S. will send a division to Europe, most of which will be sent to the Baltic States. In total, 20 thousand fighters are expected to arrive. In fact, the maneuvers will be a training of the offensive operation in Russia.