Image: from World Fighters X @talkmillitary
OPEN CHRONICLE | Global Defense & Diplomacy Desk
By Chronicle Staff with Agencies
VILNIUS – Portugal is set to significantly reinforce its commitment to Baltic security this spring. Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel announced on Monday that a new contingent of 146 Portuguese Marines will be dispatched to Lithuania in March.
The announcement, made during an official visit to the region, underscores Lisbon’s ongoing role in NATO’s “Assurance Measures”—a series of activities designed to reassure Central and Eastern European allies in the face of evolving security threats.
Speaking from the Lithuanian capital, Minister Rangel emphasized that the deployment is a direct response to the “complex geopolitical landscape” currently facing the European continent. “Portugal remains a reliable and steadfast partner within the Alliance,” Rangel stated. “The presence of our Marines in Lithuania is a clear signal of our dedication to the collective defense of every inch of NATO territory.”
Portugal vai enviar em março novo contingente de 146 fuzileiros para a Lituânia, diz ministro Paulo Rangel https://t.co/AmfHpcnsIg
— Expresso (@expresso) February 16, 2026
The 146-strong unit will join other international forces already stationed in the region. Their mission will primarily focus on joint training exercises, interoperability drills with Lithuanian defense forces, and surveillance operations along the strategic borders of the alliance.
📽️ Take a look inside the kit of a 🇵🇹 Portuguese Marine pic.twitter.com/iHKwBCW5KP
— NATO (@NATO) October 21, 2022
This deployment follows a long-standing tradition of Portuguese military cooperation in the Baltics. For several years, the Portuguese Air Force has regularly participated in Baltic Air Policing missions, while the Navy and Army have rotated personnel through various training cycles in Poland and the Baltic states.
Lithuanian officials have welcomed the move, noting that the specialized amphibious and reconnaissance capabilities of the Portuguese Marines provide a unique tactical advantage in the coastal and forested terrain of the region.
The contingent is expected to remain in Lithuania for several months. As tensions persist on Europe’s eastern borders, the arrival of these elite troops marks another chapter in Portugal’s pivot toward a more active and visible role in continental security.