German troops start long-term deployment in another country for the first time since World War II

Germany has stationed troops abroad on a long-term basis for the first time since World War II, with a new brigade starting operations in Lithuania on Thursday.

The inauguration ceremony for Germany’s 45th Armoured Brigade “Lithuania” took place in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital. Lithuania’s defense ministry said it marked “the official beginning of this military unit’s operations in Lithuania.”

The move has been framed by both Lithuania and Germany as one intended to protect Europe and NATO at large, particularly against Russia.

Some have warned that Russia might not stop at Ukraine, and could attack elsewhere in Europe.

Dovilė Šakalienė, Lithuania’s defense minister, said in a statement on Thursday that Germany’s troops “are here to defend freedom as well as the entire alliance.”

She also called Germany’s deployment of its troops “a historic example of leadership.”

Brig. Gen. Christoph Huber, the commander of the 45th Armored Brigade, said in April that it was being created “for the alliance, for Lithuania, for Europe’s security.”

The move is a notable one for Germany, which has leaned away from heavy defense actions and spending since World War II.

But Germany’s defense spending has grown since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this month that his government will provide resources to make its army the “strongest conventional army in Europe.”

Lithuania, a NATO member state that borders the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, as well as Russian ally Belarus, has been one of Ukraine’s most vocal allies since Russia launched its invasion.

It is also one of NATO’s biggest defense spenders as a proportion of its GDP, and one of the countries warning the loudest about future Russian aggression.

Lithuania’s defense ministry said on Thursday that there are already around 500 soldiers from Germany in the country, and that the German brigade will now be permanently relocated to Lithuania, including three manoeuvre battalions and all of its combat support and logistics.

The brigade aims to be at full capacity by the end of 2027, which would mean 5,000 German soldiers and civilians operating there.

Šakalienė said 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.”

US troops are also serving in Lithuania, something Šakalienė told BI in February she hoped would continue, even as President Donald Trump distances himself from longtime allies in Europe.

Šakalienė said her country wanted US troops to stay and said she expected the US could see “eye to eye” with countries that pay enough on defense.

Šakalienė also told BI that Europe “needs to up our defense spending very fast and very significantly,” and that Europe’s defense production needs to increase to match Russia’s.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked a flurry of defense agreements between countries, and a boost in military spending and production across Europe.

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