Asger Risom
Chancellor Friedrich Merz launches a permanent NATO brigade in Lithuania, signaling a historic shift in Berlin’s defense posture.
For the first time since the end of World War II, Germany is stationing military forces permanently on foreign soil. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius attended a formal ceremony on Thursday in Vilnius, Lithuania, marking the official launch of a new German armored brigade deployed to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank.
The move is part of a broader strategy to boost Europe’s collective defense amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The deployment reflects Germany’s commitment to NATO’s deterrence plans in the Baltics and is expected to serve as a cornerstone of Berlin’s military transformation under Merz’s new leadership.
Berlin’s Military Shift
As reported by Digi24, the ceremony in Vilnius marks a symbolic and strategic milestone.
Though Germany has participated in numerous NATO missions, this is the first time its forces are being permanently garrisoned abroad in peacetime.
The newly formed brigade will include tanks, armored vehicles, and support personnel stationed directly in Lithuania.
It follows long-standing calls from Baltic states for a stronger and more immediate military presence to deter Russian aggression in the region.
Chancellor Merz emphasized the importance of fulfilling Germany’s role within NATO and maintaining readiness in a volatile security environment. His government has sharply increased defense spending and aims to position Germany as a central pillar in European security.
Broader Diplomatic Engagements
While Merz and Pistorius were in Lithuania, other members of the German cabinet were also engaged in diplomacy across Europe and beyond.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt met with Danish Minister of Integration Kaare Dybvad Bek, while Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul held talks in Berlin with his Nigerian counterpart Yusuf Maitama Tuggar.
These parallel meetings reflect Berlin’s efforts to broaden alliances and deepen international cooperation across defense, migration, and economic development.
The German brigade in Lithuania is expected to become fully operational in the coming months, as Berlin reshapes its defense identity from postwar restraint to strategic readiness on the front lines of NATO.