A German Army brigade has officially begun its deployment in Lithuania as part of NATO's efforts to strengthen its eastern flank, Frankfurter Rundschau reports.
The Bundeswehr's "Lithuania" Brigade has commenced its mission to "defend Europe from Putin at the Russian border," according to the publication. A military parade near Vilnius on April 1 marked the occasion, during which the emblem of the 45th Tank Brigade—now the main combat unit of the contingent—was unveiled.
In the future, the brigade will be stationed near the Russian border, with a total strength of 5,000 troops.
"We have a clear mission—to ensure the protection, freedom, and security of our Lithuanian allies here on NATO’s eastern flank," said Brigadier General Christoph Huber, commander of the German brigade. He emphasized that this deployment safeguards both NATO territory and Germany itself.
According to the Bundeswehr, the brigade will consist of three combat units:
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122nd Tank Battalion (Bavaria)
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203rd Tank Battalion (North Rhine-Westphalia)
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Multinational Battle Group in Lithuania
The brigade is expected to reach full operational capability by 2027.
Lithuania borders both Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, a close Russian ally. In response to Russia’s growing aggression, the German government pledged to permanently station a combat-ready unit in Lithuania. In November 2023, then-Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans to deploy two tank battalions (approximately 4,000 troops) to form a full brigade.
Previously, Germany led NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Lithuania, rotating about 1,500 Bundeswehr soldiers. This rotational deployment will continue even after the new tank brigade is fully stationed in Lithuania.
