Brigade in Lithuania to be operational in 2027

German Armed Forces - Brigade in Lithuania to be operational in 2027

NATO allies Germany and Lithuania have agreed their roadmap for a fully operational Bundeswehr combat brigade on NATO's eastern flank within four years. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) described the signing of a basic document on this in Vilnius on Monday as a "historic moment". The construction of barracks and residential buildings in Rudninkai near the capital Vilnius and in Rukla near Kaunas is planned for a robust and war-ready brigade, which should be ready for combat by 2027.

In their plan ("Roadmap") signed in Vilnius, the two ministers reaffirm their states' commitment to "defend each other and every inch of the Alliance's territory at all times and to protect our freedom and democracy in accordance with Article 5 of the Washington Treaty". Russia's ruthless war of aggression against Ukraine has radically changed the security situation.

The document sets out what is required for the permanent stationing of up to 5,000 members of the German Armed Forces in Lithuania. Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said after the signing that Russia was the greatest threat to the Baltic states after the war of aggression against Ukraine and could be capable of aggression in three, eight or ten years' time, depending on various scenarios. "The threat is great and no matter how we assess the time frame, we must prepare ourselves," he said.

Intergovernmental agreement

Lithuania borders Belarus, which is allied with Russia, and the Russian Baltic Sea enclave of Kaliningrad. A narrow land corridor runs between the two to the west - the so-called Suwalki Gap, around which fighting could break out in the event of an attack. For the Lithuanians, Germany's troop deployment in the country is a desired reassurance of its commitment to support them.

After the formal formation of the new brigade in 2025, the material and number of troops are to increase, especially up to 2026. This is described in the paper as a "transition phase", during which the brigade will already be led from Lithuania, while parts will still be brought together in Germany. Details are to be regulated in technical agreements. The legal status of the German soldiers in Lithuania is to be defined in an intergovernmental agreement.

Two combat battalions from Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia are to be deployed as the core of the new brigade. The third battalion will be the multinational NATO battle group (eFP battle group) in Lithuania, which is already under German command in the Baltic state and has rotating personnel. In addition, there will be logisticians, medical personnel, communications experts and administrative staff. Exact details of the necessary weapons purchases and the costs of the project are still being examined. Pistorius said that a brigade in Germany costs 25 to 30 million euros per month.

The two countries are committed to creating conditions that will allow members of the Bundeswehr to bring their families with them. The soldiers should be able to find accommodation on the free housing market or in new residential areas that are to be developed. "In order to ensure healthcare, it is important to rely on the Lithuanian healthcare system," the document states. And: "Germany intends to establish one or two Bundeswehr schools as well as German-language childcare facilities."

Pistorius emphasized that the deployment was "new territory for the Bundeswehr". "Never before has the Bundeswehr or Germany stationed troops permanently outside of Germany with a permanent component of soldiers". In the past, these had always been "temporary, rotating deployments".

Following the signing and political talks in Vilnius, the SPD politician paid a pre-Christmas visit to the German soldiers currently deployed in Lithuania at their barracks in Rukla. This has become a tradition since the men and women of the Bundeswehr have been deployed abroad. Beforehand, he visited a tank repair workshop where the Leopard 2 main battle tanks handed over by Germany to Ukraine are being serviced and war damage repaired.