NATO flexes muscle to protect Vilnius summit near Russia, Belarus

German Patriot air defence system units are seen at the Vilnius airport in Vilnius, Lithuania July 7, 2023. REUTERS/Janis Laizans

(This July 8 story has been refiled to remove extraneous word 'vehicles' in paragraph 6, and change 'measures' to 'equipment' in paragraph 8)

KANIUKAI, Lithuania (Reuters) - NATO has turned Vilnius into a fortress defended by advanced weaponry to protect U.S. President Joe Biden and other alliance leaders meeting next week only 32 km (20 miles) from Lithuania's razor-wire topped border fence with Russian ally Belarus.