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2h ago

Germany Marks Formation of First Permanent Overseas Brigade in Lithuania

Chancellor Merz visits Vilnius to commemorate the establishment of Armored Brigade 45, a key step in bolstering NATO's eastern flank against Russian threats.

Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, right, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz , left, talk to the media at the Presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz attends a press conference in Vilnius, Lithuania May 22, 2025. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
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Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, left, shake hands prior to their meeting at the Presidential palace in Vilnius, Lithuania, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)

Overview

  • Germany has officially launched its first-ever permanent overseas military unit, Armored Brigade 45, in Vilnius, Lithuania, with an advance team of 400 personnel already stationed.
  • The brigade, set to reach full operational capacity by 2027, will consist of 4,800 troops and 200 civilian staff, supported by extensive infrastructure development in Lithuania.
  • This deployment is part of a NATO initiative to deter Russian aggression near the Baltic states, following heightened security concerns after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
  • Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius highlighted the deployment as a major shift in Germany's defense policy, signaling stronger NATO commitment and solidarity.
  • The German and Lithuanian governments are collaborating on logistical and financial challenges, including troop recruitment, infrastructure construction, and family support services for long-term stationing.