Germany is increasing its troops in Lithuania to 1,800 troops to strengthen NATO's eastern border. The German brigade in Lithuania is the first unit permanently stationed abroad.
German Army/PHOTO: Bundeswehr
“We see the Lithuanian Brigade as a critical contribution to deterrence and defence“, said the German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, according to Deutschland.de.
The beginning of February 2026 brought new combat battalions under the command of the brigade, so the strength increased from 500 to 1,800 soldiers and will reach 4,800 by 2027.
The brigade combines German troops with multinational forces and aims to ensure the security of Lithuania, located in an important geostrategic position between Russia and Belarus.
Germany thus assumes a central role on NATO's eastern flank and transforms the region into an important logistical center for the alliance.
The German brigade in Lithuania is the first unit permanently stationed abroad after World War II. The deployment of troops took place in May 2025.
The 45th Tank Brigade will consist of 4,800 German soldiers and 200 civilians. It was announced in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and is due to reach full operational capability by 2027.
“Together with our partners, we are determined to defend the alliance's territory against any aggression. The security of our Baltic allies is also our security”said Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
