Merz Gave The Official Start Of The German Brigade's Duty In Lithuania

It will help protect NATO's eastern flank.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz gave the official launch of a new German brigade in Lithuania that should help protect NATO's eastern flank, according to European Truth, AP reported.

Merz said "the security of our Baltic allies is also our security," and Berlin's strengthening of its own armed forces is a signal for allies to invest in security.

The deployment of the brigade to Lithuania is the first time a German brigade has been permanently based outside Germany since World War II. "This is a historic day. It is a day of trust, responsibility and action," Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said after meeting with Merz.

Germany has had troops in Lithuania, which borders Russia's Kaliningrad region and Belarus, since 2017 as part of efforts to secure NATO's eastern flank, but the new brigade significantly deepens its involvement.

The advance team began work on its creation just over a year ago, and last fall it expanded to an "activation headquarters" of about 250 personnel. The 45th Armored Brigade is expected to be staffed to its full strength of about 5,000 by the end of 2027, with troops stationed in Rukla and Rudninkai.

Dozens of military helicopters flew over the central square in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, as the brigade's commencement ceremony, attended by hundreds of military personnel and spectators, concluded on a rainy Thursday afternoon. Merz said at the event that "the defense of Vilnius is the defense of Berlin."

The deployment of troops to Lithuania comes amid a general strengthening of Germany's military strength after years of neglect as NATO members, worried about possible Russian aggression and pressure from Washington, rush to increase defense spending.

Merz also said in Vilnius that his country and its partners are determined to defend the entire NATO area.

He also named key tasks for Western allies in supporting Ukraine that he believes are important at the moment.

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