The government of Lithuania has announced the start of negotiations for the purchase of Leopard 2 tanks produced by the German industry by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (French-German defense group KNDS). The objective of the Baltic country, a member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), is to build a battalion of latest generation armored vehicles to strengthen the presence on the eastern border with Russia. 

"Our intention is to create a tank battalion, but a lot will depend on the conditions, such as the price to be agreed. So I can't give details yet", said Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas today.

The new tanks are expected to be delivered by 2030. Lithuania recently took delivery of 91 Boxer armored fighting vehicles manufactured by the German-Dutch company Artec (Krauss-Maffei Wegmann and Rheinmetall), ordered in 2016. A 670 million Euro deal. Purchase and sale also aimed at strengthening defense along the border with Russia and Belarus.