BERLIN, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) began sending additional military equipment to Lithuania on Thursday as part of a wider initiative to increase the presence of NATO forces in the Baltics.

The Bundeswehr told press that 13 "Boxer" light-wheeled tanks and one "Buffalo" armored recovery vehicle from the Immedingen military garrison in Baden-Wuerttemberg would be transported by train to the Lithuanian Rukla military base in a four-day journey.

The movement of military equipment was not an offensive move and merely intended as "reinsurance for the Baltic states", a statement by Military Commander Ruediger Otto read.

The mechanized infantry (Panzergrenadier) battalion accompanying the 14 tanks will take the place of another German light infantry battalion currently stationed in Rukla.

In total, 150 vehicles and 60 containers will be transported to Lithuania as a consequence of the new German deployment.