A groundbreaking agreement between Germany and Lithuania marks the first permanent foreign deployment of German troops since World War II.
The announcement, made in Lithuania, unfolded during a meeting between Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius.
The comprehensive “Roadmap Action Plan” outlines the deployment of approximately 4,800 German soldiers on a long-term basis. Both officials emphasized the historic significance of this move, not only for their respective nations but also for NATO. A groundbreaking agreement
Starting in 2024, German troops, including those with families, will be stationed in the Lithuanian cities of Kaunas and Vilnius. The majority of troops are slated for deployment in 2025 and 2026, with full operational capability expected by 2027. As part of the agreement, Lithuania is committed to providing all necessary civilian and military infrastructure to support the stationed German forces.
The agreement was originally announced in June, but no timeline was presented at that time.
“The German commitment of permanently stationing a brigade in Lithuania is a historical step for both Germany and Lithuania,” Anusauskas said Monday, according to a press release. “We are turning over to a page of even deeper strategic partnership.”
Continuing his statement, he emphasized, “The German Brigade will play a pivotal role in significantly boosting our defensive capabilities, thereby strengthening NATO’s deterrence and collective defense efforts. The Roadmap signed today provides a detailed framework for the steps both Lithuania and Germany will take to bring this deployment to fruition.”
Pistorius said the move was a positive step in defense relations, considering the lengthy war between Ukraine and Russia, the latter of which borders Lithuania. Belarus, a close ally of Russia, also borders Lithuania.
“Germany understands clearly the new state of affairs in security politics: we are taking the role of leadership and responsibility in the [NATO] Alliance as we deploy a combat brigade in Lithuania,” Pistorius said in the release. “We will ensure reliable deterrence and we will be ready to [defend] NATO. We are sending a clear signal with this step to those who present a threat to peace and security in Europe.”