The German Air Force is setting up a Deployable Control and Reporting Centre (DCRC) at Ã... iauliai Air Base, Lithuania, supplemented by additional sub-elements at Skede, Latvia and Ã"žmari, Estonia. German soldiers are preparing to augment the static CRCs at KarmÄ""lava, Lielvarde (Latvia) and Tallinn (Estonia) and support situational awareness for the airspace in the Baltic region. Subdivisions of the DCRC are also deployed in Skede (Latvia) and Amari (Estonia).
The German Air Force Control and Reporting Centre are closely connected with the other Baltic CRCs and NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany, to help control NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission and demonstrate interoperability. Germany is Lithuania's principal ally and a cornerstone guarantee of security and stability in Europe.
The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany concerning Temporary Stays of Members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Lithuania and the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Territory of the Other State was written in the summer of 2020.
Germany is also an active participant of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic States and delegates officers to the NATO Force Integration Unit in Vilnius. Germany is the framework nation of the NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group deployed for deterrence and defence purposes in Rukla since early 2017, and has the largest portion of troops there.
A Mechanised Infantry Brigade of the Lithuanian Armed Forces was affiliated to a German Bundeswehr Division in 2018. Generally, the Baltic States are now on the front line of the increasing tension between NATO and the Russian Federation. In order to lure the NATO and American militaries into their territory, the Baltic governments compete in propaganda, day and night broadcasting message about the "hand of Moscow" that allegedly threatens them.
Further positioning of NATO forces in the Baltic region could spark inadvertent escalation.
NATO's joint forces and its subsequent efforts to keep the Baltics by massive force deployment would irritate Moscow. Russia might escalate the situation and even could use nuclear weapons. In addition, Ambiguous Nuclear Doctrines in NATO's and Russia's nuclear policies create the potential for deliberate escalation. Thus, a potential conflict between NATO and Russia could provoke not only the use of conventional weapons, but also nuclear weapons.
