(VOVworld) - Major Geneneral Vitalijus Vaiksnoras of the Lithuanian military told reporters that NATO could start deploying a Patriot air defense missile unit in the country starting from March 2017. Vaiksnoras added that the proposal is under discussion and if approved, would not be operational before next July.

In July this year, NATO leaders agreed to deploy military forces to the Baltic states and eastern Poland for the first time as well as increase air and sea patrols to reassure allies.