NATO's eastern flank: German combat brigade in Lithuania until 2025

German Military Expansion in Lithuania: Securing NATO's Eastern Frontier

Come 2025, the German armed forces, also known as the Bundeswehr, are set to deploy a combat brigade in Lithuania as a show of strength and deterrence. According to reports from the German Press Agency, a preliminary command will set foot in this NATO partner nation in the second quarter of the upcoming year. This will be followed by the arrival of a full-fledged commander with accompanying troops by the year's end.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is slated to sign a roadmap for this operation with his Lithuanian counterpart Arvydas Anusauskas in Vilnius on Monday. This move is a direct response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, providing Lithuania with a much-needed security boost.

The Planned Deployment

Here's what you need to know about this operation:

1. Strength in Numbers: The Lithuanian brigade involves the permanent deployment of around 5,000 soldiers and civilians in total. Of these, 4,800 will be military personnel, with 200 civilians handling administrative tasks.
2. Core forces: Two combat troop battalions from Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia will form the backbone of the new brigade.
3. NATO Partnership: The third battalion, a multinational NATO battle group, is already under German command in Lithuania. It boasts rotating personnel and will continue to play a crucial role in this deployment.

For Lithuania, this deployment is a significant step towards fortifying its security and bolstering regional defense. With a military force of only 15,000 active personnel, including 3,500 conscripts, the support from the German brigade will be a game-changer. By 2030, Lithuania aims to beef up its armed forces to 17,000 to 18,000 soldiers.

Germany and Lithuania's Growing Partnership

Germany has been instrumental in Lithuania's rearmament and modernization efforts, with both countries sharing a strong military relationship. Lithuania uses German weapons systems and vehicles, while several Lithuanian officers have been trained at German universities.

Moreover, Germany has also played a critical role in repairing damage to Leopard 2 tanks supplied to Ukraine and used in the battle against Russia. These repaired tanks will soon return to Ukraine from the Baltic EU and NATO country as a testament to Germany's unwavering support for Ukraine's independence against Russian aggression.

A Strategic Move for NATO's Eastern Flank

As a response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine, the permanent deployment of German troops in Lithuania is a strategic move to bolster NATO's eastern flank. This constitutes a significant step towards strengthening the alliance and demonstrating to potential adversaries that NATO remains a formidable force.

Sources:

[1] 'Deutsche Abteilung in Litauen: Bundeswehr bringt Combat Brigade bis 2025':

[2] 'Die Deutsche Soldaten...':

[3] 'Das EB ist bereit ein höheres Kreditvolumen für Litauen zu gewähren':

[4] 'NATO-Streitkräfte auf dem Baltischen Landzunge':

[5] 'Deutsche Kampfbrigade in Litauen - Die Details zu der Permanenten Abteilung':