The brigade in Lithuania: Establishment is moving forward
The brigade in Lithuania: Establishment is moving forward
- Date:
- Place:
- Lithuania
- Reading time:
- 2 MIN
There is little time, and the project is complex: Germany is establishing a heavy brigade in Lithuania, one of its partner countries in NATO. This combat element is to be operational in three years. A joint working group with members from Germany and the host country Lithuania is planning the stationing process. The group met for the eighth time from 16 to 18 October.
The German-Lithuanian working group is laying the groundwork for permanent stationing of the brigade in Lithuania – as here at their eighth meeting, held at the Federal Ministry of Defence in Berlin
Bundeswehr/Torsten KraatzPermanently stationing a brigade abroad is something new for the Bundeswehr. 4,800 military personnel and 200 civilian members of the Bundeswehr are to have ample resources for their duty there, as well as appropriate accommodations. In addition, we must ensure that the personnel can commute to Lithuania and back to Germany, and that their children can attend school in Lithuania.
Working group is making good progress
In short, it is a complex project. In order to implement it within the specified time, the partners are constantly coordinating with each other. Accordingly, the German-Lithuanian working group, headed on the German side by Lieutenant General Gunter Schneider, Director-General for Military Strategy and Operations at the Federal Ministry of Defence, and on the Lithuanian side by Major General Remigijus Baltrėnas, Chief of the Defence Staff, and Vaidotas Urbelis, Defence Policy Director of the Ministry of National Defence, met for the eighth time.
“We have achieved a great deal together, and we can be proud of that. I am convinced that we will also manage to perform the remaining tasks in time.”
The meeting in Berlin addressed questions about the military sites, private accommodations for members of the Bundeswehr and many other topics, including medical care for German forces, cooperation between the two countries’ military police, and ITInformationstechnik connectivity and ITInformationstechnik security matters.
Protecting a free Europe
Both countries are working at full speed on this stationing project – and with good reason. Lithuania needs NATO for deterrence and, if necessary, to support national defence. After all, it borders directly on Russia and Belarus. Germany sees provision of a major unit as a sign of solidarity within NATO in the watershed era of the Zeitenwende. In this way, it is also fulfilling its promise to protect a free and democratic Europe.
“Your security is our security”.
Stationing of the brigade is being implemented step by step. The decision was made last year, and the Bundeswehr sent an advance party to the Baltic region. This party has since grown into the activation staff. Some 150 members of the Bundeswehr are currently laying the groundwork for steadily building up this Army brigade.
Next meeting in early 2025
The brigade is to officially enter into service with an activation ceremony in summer 2025. The majority of the German forces are to be stationed in Rūdninkai, south of the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Another major location will be established in Rukla, near the city of Kaunas.
In future, three manoeuvre battalions are to be part of the brigade: two from Germany and one as a successor to the multinational NATO battlegroup in Lithuania. Roundup units and supporting arms units will join them. The next meeting of the joint working group for the brigade in Lithuania will be in Vilnius in early 2025.
