Germany returns to deploying troops abroad for the first time since World War II. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Lithuania, on the occasion of the establishment of a German armored brigade intended to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. This is the first permanent military deployment abroad since World War II: a significant event that aims to deter possible Russian aggression against Lithuania and the other Baltic states, Estonia and Latvia, which are increasingly concerned about Moscow’s aims.
“Russia, as it is today, – said the chancellor speaking in Vilnius alongside Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda – represents a threat to all of us. It is against this threat that we are defending ourselves, and that is why we are here today”.
Although Germany has participated in international missions, its post-war pacifist tradition has historically limited its direct military involvement. The creation of this brigade therefore represents an unprecedented turning point for the Bundeswehr in the post-war era. The ceremony in Vilnius officially sanctioned the establishment of the 45th Tank Brigade, also known as the ‘Lithuania Brigade’, which will be deployed gradually over the next few years, reaching full operational capacity, with around 5,000 troops stationed in Rukla and Rudninkai, by the end of 2027. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, after meeting with Merz, said: “This is a historic day. This is a day of trust, responsibility and action”.
This deployment is part of the broader context of strengthening the German army, the Bundeswehr, after years of underfunding. The decision is part of a broader framework of increased defense spending by NATO members, in response to concerns about possible Russian aggression and pressure from the United States.
Merz said that, in addition to the new brigade, “Germany is investing heavily in its own armed forces”. He added: “With this, we also want to send a signal to our allies: we are now investing decisively in our security. Together with our partners, we are determined to defend the territory of the alliance from any aggression. The security of our Baltic allies is also our security”.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged to increase German defense spending to the NATO target of 2% of GDP, announcing the creation of a special fund for the modernization of the Bundeswehr. Germany has achieved this goal thanks to this fund, but the resources will run out in 2027. The new coalition government has obtained parliamentary approval to increase defense spending, waiving the strict rules on debt. Merz, the first Chancellor to have served in the Bundeswehr, told parliament that “the government will in future provide all the funding the Bundeswehr needs to become the strongest conventional army in Europe”.
There have been signs of increasing hostile Russian activity, including the use of “hybrid warfare” tactics in the Baltic Sea. Earlier this month, a Russian spy plane was spotted in Belarus, apparently to observe a multinational NATO military exercise in Lithuania.
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