Germany establishes permanent military presence in Lithuania

Germany has initiated its first permanent military presence in Lithuania since World War II.

The ceremony was attended by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz described this as “the beginning of a new era.”

At the foot of Gediminas Hill in Vilnius’s Old Town, accompanied by a military band and hundreds of soldiers lined up in formation, the message “Berlin is back in the Baltics and here to stay” was conveyed.

“We are taking the defense of NATO’s eastern flank into our own hands,” Merz declared in his opening remarks alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda on Thursday.

The Chancellor, announcing “the dawn of a new era,” characterized this address as a “shared commitment by Berlin and Vilnius to safeguard Europe’s freedom against any aggressor.”

Merz asserted, “Lithuania’s security is our security. The defense of Vilnius is the defense of Berlin. Our common peace knows no geographical boundaries; it ends where we cease to defend it.”

Nausėda stated that the brigade’s deployment marked an “extraordinary event” in the country’s history.

The President added, “Their arrival reflects the shared values of Lithuania and Germany, our time-tested friendship, and ultimately the remarkable progress our strategic partnership has made in recent years.”

Nausėda then addressed the German soldiers in German, expressing gratitude for their presence in Lithuania.

The visit to Lithuania follows Merz’s pledge to transform the German army into Europe’s most powerful military force.

The 5,000-strong Lithuanian Brigade has established its headquarters in Rūdninkai, just 30 km south of Vilnius, with support elements deployed in Rokantiškės and Nemenčinė.

According to information provided to Euractiv, up to 10,000 German soldiers and their family members could eventually be stationed in Lithuania.

The brigade is anticipated to achieve full operational capability by 2027.

The brigade will be deployed in the Suwalki Gap, the narrow corridor between Kaliningrad and Belarus, which is regarded as a critical point in a potential conflict between NATO and Russia.

Germany’s move mirrors commitments made by France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, who respectively lead NATO battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

The deployment of the German army is also reshaping Vilnius: German language schools and housing projects are already underway, and discussions are ongoing regarding the establishment of a German radio station in the country.

Germany’s renewed focus on the Baltics, after two wars, coincides with the deepening of industrial ties between Berlin and Vilnius.

German defense giant Rheinmetall, a key supplier of Leopard tanks and artillery shells, is expanding its presence in Eastern Europe by opening new factories in Lithuania, Romania, and Hungary.

A major 155 mm artillery shell factory is under construction in Lithuania’s Radviliškis region.

Meanwhile, Lithuania is doubling its investment in German equipment and technology, ranging from Leopard 2 tanks to Boxer armored vehicles.