Germany begins deployment of permanent military contingent in Lithuania
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Military (Illustrative photo: Christopher Neundorf/EPA)
On Tuesday, April 1, Germany officially commenced the deployment of its first permanent military contingent abroad since World War II — a tank brigade consisting of 5,000 personnel in Lithuania, as reported by Politico.
Berlin is enhancing NATO’s eastern flank in reaction to Russian hostility towards Ukraine.
The newly established 45th Armoured Brigade was formally introduced at a ceremony near Vilnius, where a temporary headquarters was set up and the brigade’s insignia was revealed. The unit is under the command of Brigadier General Christoph Huber.
“We have a distinct mission: to guarantee the defense, freedom, and security of our Lithuanian allies along NATO’s eastern flank. In doing so, we also safeguard NATO territory – as well as Germany itself,” Huber stated.
In 2023, Berlin committed to a long-term troop presence in Lithuania, departing from decades of German defense policy that refrained from permanently stationing combat forces abroad.
The unit is anticipated to be fully operational by 2027 and will eventually be stationed at a new military facility in Rudninkai, located approximately 30 kilometers south of Vilnius. Until that time, the troops will function from temporary bases in Lithuania.
The strategy encompasses not only frontline troops but also support units – including a medical facility, communication company, and command support teams.
Presently, there are 150 German soldiers deployed in Lithuania, with expectations to increase this number to 500 by year-end.
Lithuania, which shares a border with Russia’s Kaliningrad region and the Kremlin-aligned Belarus, views this move as crucial for its national security.
- On August 20, 2024, it was reported that Lithuania had initiated the construction of a military base to accommodate German military personnel: this would mark the first permanent deployment of German troops since World War II.
- On April 1, 2025, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister noted that the intelligence community within NATO countries concurred that Russia poses a long-term direct military threat to the Alliance.
