Germany boosts Nato's eastern flank amid threat from Russia
Update:
Date: 2025-05-22T07:39:56.000Z
Title: Morning opening: Germany boosts Nato's eastern flank
Content: German chancellor Friedrich Merz visits Lithuania today to mark the official formation of Germany's first permanent overseas military unit since the second world war, which is intended to boost Europe's defences against Russia on the eastern flank of Nato.
The armoured brigade aims to achieve full operational capability with 5,000 personnel by 2027, up from 400 at the moment.
The deployment marks a major milestone in Germany's thinking on defence and security, and is unprecedented in the postwar era.
But it reflects growing concerns in this part of the world about Russia's increasingly assertive posture – with no signs it has any intention to end its invasion of Ukraine – and some lingering doubts over Donald Trump's US and its readiness to support allies in this part of the world.
Merz has repeatedly promised to spend more on the modernisation of the Bundeswehr, responding to worries about personnel and equipment shortages.
As he starts translating words into actions, this looks like a strong message from Berlin – and one coming just weeks before Nato's summit in The Hague, the Netherlands next month.
We will hear from Merz, joined on the trip by defence minister Boris Pistorius, and Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda at some point this morning.
I will bring you all key updates from across Europe throughout the day.
It's Thursday, 22 May 2025, it's Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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