Germany Stations Soldiers in Lithuania

Germany sent its first group of soldiers to Lithuania on Monday to set up a permanent military base. This marks the nation’s first long-term deployment since World War ii.

About 20 German soldiers arrived in Lithuania and are expected to be joined by another 150 before the end of the year. Germany plans to send a total of 4,800 troops and 200 civilians by 2027 to form a new brigade that will coordinate with nato.

‘An important day’: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the deployment marks “an important day for the German Army.”

This is the first time that we have permanently stationed such a unit outside of Germany. … We will create such a defense and deterrence architecture that no adversary from the east will even think about testing nato’s Article 5.
—Boris Pistorius

Article 5 of the nato treaty states an armed attack against one of its members will be considered an attack against all of them. Germany says this new base in Lithuania will help deter Russia from attacking another East European country like it did Ukraine.

When World War ii ended, Germany was forbidden to have a military, let alone deploy that military outside of its borders. Permanently stationing troops in Lithuania marks a significant change in Germany’s military policy.

Learn more: Read “Why Germany’s New Military Base Matters.”