Right at Russia's doorstep, Germany to station troops in Lithuania
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Germany will permanently station troops in Lithuania by 2027, marking its first foreign deployment since WWII, to bolster NATO’s eastern flank amid tension with Russia.
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German soldiers take part in the Lithuanian-German division-level international military exercise 'Grand Quadriga 2024' at a training range in Pabrade, north of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania, on May 29, 2024 (AP)
Germany’s Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr, announced that its troops will be permanently stationed along NATO’s eastern flank in Lithuania, with the unit expected to be fully operational by 2027, Newsweek reported on Tuesday.
This marks Germany’s first permanent foreign deployment of soldiers since World War II.
Brigadier General Christoph Huber, commander of the German brigade in Lithuania, stated, "We have a clear mission. We have to ensure the protection, freedom and security of our Lithuanian allies here on NATO's eastern flank."
While Germany had previously deployed troops to Afghanistan, it was not a permanent stationing.
Lithuania shares borders with Belarus, a close ally of Moscow, and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, a region that could be a flashpoint in any potential conflict between Russia and NATO, the report pointed out.
A multi-year Roadmap Action Plan between Germany and Lithuania was signed in December 2023. At the time, both countries described the agreement as a historic step for their bilateral relations and NATO’s efforts to reinforce its eastern flank in response to Russia's war with Ukraine.
Under the plan, thousands of combat-ready German soldiers will be stationed in Lithuania by 2027, marking Berlin’s first permanent foreign deployment in decades.
The Bundeswehr stated that the newly formed 45th Armored Brigade was officially activated during a ceremony near the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. A temporary headquarters has been set up for the unit, which is under the command of Brigadier General Huber. The brigade currently consists of around 150 troops, a number expected to increase to 500 by the end of 2025.
According to a report by the German newspaper Bild last week, Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and armed forces believe Moscow is preparing for a large-scale conflict with NATO.
The German brigade in Lithuania will eventually include up to 5,000 soldiers. They will be primarily based at a military barracks and training area in Rudninkai, about 20 miles south of Vilnius. However, this facility has yet to be built, so troops will operate from temporary bases in the interim.
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