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Irish Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Merz vows to defend Nato territory as German troops deploy in Lithuania
Eight decades after the Nazi horrors of the second World War , Lithuania has welcomed German soldiers – this time as Nato allies. Amid growing doubt over the US commitment to the region, chancellor Friedrich Merz said the co-operation − involving the deployment of a German brigade in Lithuania − marked a 'new era' of German readiness to defend 'every inch' of Nato territory and stand with the Baltic region against 'any threat'. In Vilnius on Thursday, Merz and his defence minister Boris Pistorius oversaw the first ceremonial role call of the Panzer Brigade 45, the first battle tank brigade based outside Germany since 1945. 'We are determined, together with our allies, to defend Nato territory against any, any threat. We must do everything to defend ourselves – so that we never have to,' said Merz alongside Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda. READ MORE The German leader praised successive Baltic governments for recognising the Russian threat and acknowledging their 'irritation' over long-lasting German 'illusions about Putin's regime'. 'I assure you, that time is over,' Merz said. 'We are aware of the seriousness of the situation. And we are aware of our responsibility.' The new brigade comes a week after Merz promised that unprecedented German defence investment will result in Europe's greatest conventional army. About 400 German soldiers are stationed in the Baltic region at present. Some have begun their basic training while others will follow in the coming months. By February 2026, the Nato multinational force in Lithuania will be subordinated to the new German division, bringing total numbers up to 1,800. In a year's time Germany aims to have nearly 2,000 soldiers on the ground. A year later the hope is for the brigade to grow to about 5,000 personnel. The new brigade is headquartered in Rudninkai, 30km south of the capital, with a focus on the vulnerable Suwalki Gap. This is a narrow corridor between Kaliningrad and Belarus and is seen as a potential flashpoint in any potential Nato-Russia conflict. [ Merz vows to build the strongest army in Europe and revitalise Germany's fortunes Opens in new window ] Memories of the last major conflict here hung over Thursday's ceremony. Nazi Germany occupied the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from 1941 until the end of the war in 1945. Though initially welcomed as liberators from Soviet oppression, the Nazi occupiers murdered huge numbers of the local population, including the majority of the Jewish and Sinti-Roma communities. The new deployment has led to the rise of German-language schools and housing projects in Lithuania, while German defence company Rheinmetall is setting up a new factory here. In exchange Lithuania has agreed to step up orders of German equipment and technology, including Rheinmetall's Leopard 2 tanks and Boxer armoured vehicles. Germany's deployment mirrors commitments by France, the UK, and Canada, which lead Nato battle groups in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, respectively.
Washington Post
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Germany's Merz inaugurates a historic new brigade in Lithuania and pushes for security spending
VILNIUS, Lithuania — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that 'the security of our Baltic allies is also our security' as he traveled to NATO partner Lithuania Thursday to inaugurate a German brigade meant to protect the alliance's eastern flank in the face of mounting worries about Russia . He said Berlin's strengthening of its own military sends a signal to its allies.
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Germany's Merz inaugurates a historic new brigade in Lithuania and pushes for security spending
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared that 'the security of our Baltic allies is also our security' as he traveled to NATO partner Lithuania Thursday to inaugurate a German brigade meant to protect the alliance's eastern flank in the face of mounting worries about Russia. He said Berlin's strengthening of its own military sends a signal to its allies. The stationing in Lithuania marks the first time that German troops are being based outside their home country on a long-term basis since World War II. 'This is a historic day,' Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said after meeting Merz. 'This is a day of trust, responsibility and action.' German brigade to be at full strength in 2027 Germany has had troops in Lithuania — which borders Russia's Kaliningrad exclave and Moscow-allied Belarus — since 2017, as part of efforts to secure NATO's eastern fringe, but the new brigade deepens its engagement significantly. An advance party started work on setting it up just over a year ago and expanded into an 'activation staff' of about 250 people last fall. After Germany's 45 Armored Brigade is inaugurated in a ceremony on Vilnius' central cathedral square Thursday, it is expected to be up to its full strength of about 5,000 by the end of 2027, with troops stationed at Rukla and Rudninkai. The deployment in Lithuania has been taking shape as Germany works to strengthen its military overall after years of neglect as NATO members scramble to increase defense spending, spurred by worries about further potential Russian aggression and pressure from Washington. Beefing up the Bundeswehr Merz said that, beyond the new brigade, 'Germany is investing massively in its own armed forces.' 'With this, we also want to send a signal to our allies: let us now invest with determination in our own security,' he added. 'Together with our partners, we are determined to defend alliance territory against every — every — aggression. The security of our Baltic allies is also our security.' Shortly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged to increase Germany's defense spending to the current NATO target of 2% of gross domestic product and announced the creation of a 100 billion-euro ($113-billion) special fund to modernize the Bundeswehr. Germany met that target thanks to the fund, but it will be used up in 2027. Even before it took office earlier this month, the new governing coalition pushed plans through parliament to enable higher defense spending by loosening strict rules on incurring debt. Merz, the first chancellor to have served in the Bundeswehr himself, told parliament last week that 'the government will in the future provide all the financing the Bundeswehr needs to become the strongest conventional army in Europe.' Lithuania to spend more than 5% on defense Host Lithuania said in January that it would raise its defense spending to between 5% and 6% of GDP starting next year, from a bit over 3%. That made it the first NATO nation to vow to reach a 5% goal called for by U.S. President Donald Trump. A plan is in the works for all allies to aim to spend 3.5% of GDP on their defense budgets by 2032, plus an extra 1.5% on potentially defense-related things like infrastructure — roads, bridges, airports and seaports. Merz said in Lithuania that those figures 'seem sensible to us, they also seem reachable — at least in the time span until 2032 that has been stipulated.' German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said earlier this week that the plan is to increase defense spending by 0.2 percentage points each year for five to seven years. Merz has plunged into diplomatic efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Ukraine since taking office earlier this month. 'We stand firmly by Ukraine, but we also stand together as Europeans as a whole — and, whenever possible, we play in a team with the U.S.,' he said. ___ Moulson reported from Berlin.
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Poland checking for any explosive devices near undersea power cable, PM says
WARSAW, May 22 (Reuters) - Poland is looking into whether any explosive devices were planted where a ship from Russia's "shadow fleet" was seen moving suspiciously near a power cable linking Poland with Sweden on Wednesday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said. NATO has beefed up security in the Baltic following a string of incidents in which power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines were damaged in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "Shadow fleet" refers to vessels used by Russia to ship oil, arms and grains in violation of international sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine. "We are still investigating whether any explosives were planted - it has to be checked very carefully. ORP Heweliusz (Polish hydrographic ship) is still at sea (doing so), and for now there are no worrisome signals," Tusk told reporters on Thursday during a meeting with Polish Navy commanders. "I am really very satisfied that in a very effective, discreet way, without using unnecessary means, we managed to discourage the ship from any kinetic actions that could cause damage to the power cable," he said. Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Wednesday a Polish patrol flight had scared the Russian ship off and the navy's ORP Heweliusz sailed to the scene. The 600-megawatt undersea cable links the Swedish coast near Karlshamn with Ustka in northern Poland and allows both grids to rely on cross-border supplies when electricity is cheaper in the other system. On Wednesday Russia's embassy in Warsaw declined to comment. In the past, Moscow has denied involvement in undersea sabotage in the Baltic, saying the West was using such claims to curb Russia's seaborne oil exports.
CNA
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Poland intervenes as Russian 'shadow fleet' ship spotted near power cable
WARSAW: Poland's military intervened after a ship from the Russian "shadow fleet" was seen performing suspicious manoeuvres near a power cable connecting Poland with Sweden, the Polish Prime Minister said on Wednesday (May 21). NATO has stepped up security in the Baltic following a string of incidents in which power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines have been damaged in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "A Russian ship from the 'shadow fleet' covered by sanctions performed suspicious manoeuvres near the power cable connecting Poland with Sweden," Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X. "After the effective intervention of our military, the ship sailed to one of the Russian ports." The term "shadow fleet" refers to vessels used by Russia to ship oil, arms and grains in violation of international sanctions imposed after the invasion. Speaking later to reporters, Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said a patrol flight scared the ship off and Polish Navy Polish Navy's ORP Heweliusz was sailing to the scene. The Russian embassy in Warsaw did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. In the past, Moscow has denied its involvement in undersea sabotage in the Baltic, saying the West was using such claims to curb its sea-borne oil exports. The 600-megawatt undersea cable links the Swedish coast near Karlshamn with Ustka in northern Poland and allows both grids to rely on cross-border supplies when electricity is cheaper in the other system. A spokesperson for Polish grid operator PSE said the cable was working. PSE data showed over 600 megawatts were flowing to Sweden through the cable at 1130 GMT. "This shows how dangerous the times we live in are, how serious the situation in the Baltic Sea is," Kosiniak-Kamysz told a news conference. "Since Sweden and Finland joined the North Atlantic Alliance, the Baltic Sea has become a key marine area, where the largest number of incidents occur, the most common incidents related to cable breaks ... and sabotage." He vowed a "firm response" from Poland and NATO to any attack on Baltic Sea infrastructure.
