The Lithuanian city of Vilnius has been turned into a fortress defended by the most modern weapons, in order to protect US President Joseph Biden and the leaders of other NATO members, reports Reuters.
They will participate in the Alliance summit on Tuesday and Wednesday, only thirty kilometers from the border with Belarus and 151 kilometers from Russia.
Sixteen NATO members, in order to secure the summit, hired about a thousand soldiers, along with modern anti-aircraft systems that Lithuania does not have, reports the British agency.
"It would be more than irresponsible for our skies to be unprotected while Biden and the leaders of 40 countries arrive," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said.
Germany sent 12 Patriot missile launchers, which are used to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles.
Spain has delivered the anti-aircraft system NASAMS, while France is bringing howitzers "Caesar".
Finland, Denmark and France have deployed their fighter jets in Lithuania, while Great Britain and France are in charge of drone protection.
"You know where the threat is coming from"
At the airport in Vilnius, eight German "Patriot" missile launchers are directed in the direction of Russian Kaliningrad. Two more were facing Belarus. All launchers are operational as of Friday morning.
"You know where you are geographically and you know pretty well where the threat is coming from," said Lt. Col. Steffen Lieb. "Lithuania asked us for the protection of the summit, and NATO asked for help from Germany. This is our answer," he added.
"Establish permanent defense"
For Nauseda, the allies' efforts to ensure air security during the gathering of leaders means that NATO urgently needs to establish a permanent air defense in the Baltic states.
"We are thinking about what happens after the summit is over and we will work with allies to create a rotating force for sustained air protection," he told reporters.
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