First time since World War II, Germany sends troops to Lithuania on long-term basis, has it sensed something?
In a move that breaks with decades of post-WWII tradition, Germany has begun its first long-term overseas troop deployment. The country is stationing thousands of soldiers in Lithuania, a NATO ally that borders Russia and Belarus. The decision reflects Europe's growing security concerns as tensions with Russia persist.
The deployment is framed as a NATO defence move, with the goal of deterring Russian aggression.
Germany's 45th Armoured Brigade "Lithuania" held its inauguration ceremony in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius. The defence ministry of Lithuania declared it to be "the official beginning of this military unit's operations in Lithuania,' as per a report by Business Insider. About 500 German soldiers are currently stationed in Lithuania, according to the country's defence ministry, which announced on Thursday that the German brigade, complete with three manoeuvre battalions and all of its logistics and combat support, will now be permanently moved there.
By the end of 2027, the brigade hopes to be fully staffed, with 5,000 German soldiers and civilians working there. There have been warnings that Russia may attack other parts of Europe besides Ukraine.ALSO READ: U.S issues travel advisory for Switzerland, one of the world's richest and advanced nations, here are reasons it cited Both Germany and Lithuania have presented the action as a means of defending Europe and NATO as a whole, especially against Russia.The 45th Armoured Brigade's commander, Brig. Gen. Christoph Huber, stated in April that the unit was being established "for the alliance, for Lithuania, for Europe's security."According to a statement released by Lithuania's defence minister, Dovilė Šakalienė, Germany's troops "are here to defend freedom as well as the entire alliance."She referred to Germany's troop deployment as "a historic example of leadership."For Germany, which has shied away from significant defence spending and actions since World War II, the move is noteworthy.
However, since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany has increased its defence budget, and this month, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that his government will provide funds to make its army the "strongest conventional army in Europe,' as per a report by Business Insider. Since Russia began its invasion, Ukraine has made Lithuania, a NATO member that borders the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, and Belarus, a Russian ally, one of its most vocal allies.It is among the nations that issue the loudest warnings about potential Russian aggression and one of NATO's largest defence expenditures relative to its GDP.He stated that Lithuania "will continue to do everything to create all the infrastructure on time, to provide the necessary host nation support, and to ensure that the German soldiers feel at home."Even as President Donald Trump turns away from his longstanding European allies, Šakalienė told BI in February that she hoped the US troops would continue to serve in Lithuania.According to Šakalienė, her nation wanted US troops to remain, and she anticipated that the US could work "eye to eye" with nations that make adequate defence expenditures.Why is Germany sending troops to Lithuania now?Following the war in Ukraine, NATO will help defend its eastern border and deter Russian aggression.
What number of German troops will be in Lithuania? By the end of 2027, an estimated 5,000 soldiers and civilians will be permanently stationed.
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