KABUL (BNA) The Ukraine war has boosted the French arms market, with Lithuania deciding to buy Howitzer artillery pieces from Paris.
The French and Lithuanian defense ministers announced that Vilnius had agreed to buy 18 Howitzers from Paris because the country had strengthened its Baltic Sea arsenal due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Said reports quoting AFP.
Lithuania, a member of the European Union and NATO, plans to inject another 300 million euros ($ 312 million) into its 2022 defense budget as the Ukraine war raises security concerns.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anušauskas tweeted that his country was buying 18 César Marktel howitzers from France.
He stressed that these artillery pieces strengthen the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine has frightened small Baltic states who fear the next country will be the target of aggression.
Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, all members of NATO and part of the former Soviet Union, have defended Ukraine with military equipment and humanitarian aid.
Lithuania has said it has sent tens of millions of euros worth of military equipment to Ukraine, including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, mortars, rifles, ammunition, and other equipment. Lithuanians have also allocated more than 5 million euros to buy another UAV for Ukraine.
On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics in the Donbas region, criticizing the West for not paying attention to Moscow’s security concerns.
Three days later (March 26), he announced the launch of a special military operation against Ukraine, shifting from tense Moscow-Kyiv relations to a military confrontation.
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