On October 22, 2024, Lithuania officially decided to purchase German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks and initiated procedures for acquiring Swedish CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles. According to a statement from the Ministry of Defense, the decision also includes establishing requirements for cooperation with Lithuania’s domestic defense industry. The announcement follows a meeting of the State Defense Council (VGT) on October 22, 2024, marking a key milestone in Lithuania’s ongoing efforts to modernize its military forces.
The meeting, attended by the Minister of National Defense Laurynas Kasčiūnas and Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces General Raimundas Vaikšnoras, focused on the progress of the national division’s development and the acquisition of heavy weaponry. The decision to acquire the Leopard 2 tanks follows earlier discussions at previous VGT meetings, where the German tanks were selected as the preferred option.