Chancellor Friedrich Merz has cautioned that Russia poses a security threat to Europe during his visit to Lithuania, where he commemorated the establishment of Germany’s first permanent overseas military unit since World War II, designed to enhance NATO’s eastern defense.
The initiative to develop a 5,000-strong armored brigade in Lithuania over the coming years was a direct response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“Russia presents a threat to us all,” Mr. Merz stated to reporters in Vilnius. “We are taking measures to protect ourselves against this threat, which is why we are here today.”
The German deployment aims to deter potential Russian aggression towards Lithuania and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Latvia—former Soviet republics that are now NATO and EU members and are increasingly concerned about Russian intentions.
The creation of a permanent brigade stationed abroad is a landmark development for the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, in the post-war landscape.
Mr. Merz, who became Chancellor this month, will take part in a ceremony in Vilnius to officially recognize the formation of the heavy combat unit, the 45th tank brigade, also referred to as the “Lithuania Brigade.”
This will represent an “important milestone towards the permanent stationing of a German brigade on NATO’s eastern flank,” said deputy government spokesperson Steffen Meyer last week.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda praised Mr. Merz’s visit as a clear indication of Germany’s “commitment to bolster the deterrence and defense of our nation and the entire NATO eastern flank.”
The brigade will comprise approximately 4,800 troops and 200 civilian Bundeswehr personnel, gradually being deployed over the next few years, with full operational capability expected by 2027.
An advance contingent of around 400 Bundeswehr members is already stationed in Lithuania, according to the defense ministry.
President Nauseda lauded Mr. Merz’s visit as a testament to Germany’s “commitment to strengthening both the deterrence and defenses of our country and the full NATO eastern flank.”
Mr. Merz, who has pledged to establish Europe’s “strongest conventional army” by increasing defense spending, is eager to emphasize that Germany is assuming a more prominent role on the international stage amid significant political upheaval.
US President Donald Trump has exerted pressure on NATO allies to raise defense expenditures, causing anxiety about American commitment to Europe and leading to shock with his overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin while advocating for a peace deal in Ukraine.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who accompanied Mr. Merz on the trip, stated last month that the Lithuanian deployment “delivers a strong message of solidarity and preparedness.”
“Germany is stepping up,” he remarked during celebrations of the 70th anniversary of Germany joining the 32-member NATO military alliance.
Lithuania, with a population of 2.8 million, shares borders with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Russia’s ally Belarus, with the German defense ministry identifying it as “the most vulnerable state on NATO’s eastern flank.”
There have been indications that Russia is increasing its hostile actions, with frequent accusations against it for employing “hybrid warfare” tactics in the Baltic Sea.
This month, a Russian spy aircraft was observed in Belarus, apparently attempting to monitor a multinational NATO military exercise in Lithuania, according to news outlet Der Spiegel.
However, the deployment of German troops is not without its challenges.
Some question whether the Bundeswehr, which has been grappling with personnel and equipment shortages due to years of underfunding, is adequately prepared for what the defense ministry terms “one of the most complex and ambitious projects” in its history.
While Germany has been striving to allocate more funding to the military, acquiring new equipment will take years to complete.
Currently, the Bundeswehr, aiming to increase its personnel to 203,000 by 2031, is encountering difficulties in recruitment.
In January, parliament passed a law designed to enhance the military’s attractiveness as a career option by incorporating more flexible working hours and higher financial incentives.
Meanwhile, Russia has appointed a key figure from the Mariupol siege, General Andrey Mordvichev, as head of its ground forces, according to the official newspaper of the Russian army.
Defense Minister Andrey Belousov described the 49-year-old general as “an experienced combat officer who has effectively displayed his talent as a military leader during the special military operation,” which is Russia’s phrasing for its offensive in Ukraine, according to the Red Star newspaper.
Mariupol emerged as Russia’s most significant acquisition in its military campaign.
In the early stages of its assault in 2022, Russian forces captured Mariupol, a bustling coastal city on the Black Sea with a pre-war population of 540,000, and enforced a devastating siege that lasted nearly three months, resulting in 8,000 fatalities, as reported by Human Rights Watch.
Previously a pivotal hub for Ukraine’s grain trade, the city became Russia’s most significant territorial gain during its campaign, although two-thirds of its pre-war inhabitants have fled, and the siege left extensive devastation in its wake.
Ukraine’s SBU security services have accused Gen. Mordvichev of leading the siege of Azovstal, a large steel plant held by members of the Azov brigade, which has connections to far-right nationalist factions.
This plant represented the last stronghold of Ukrainian resistance in the city.
Ukraine regards Gen. Mordvichev as a war criminal, alleging that he oversaw atrocities against both Ukrainian civilians and military personnel.
In February 2024, the general orchestrated the capture of Avdiivka, an industrial town in eastern Ukraine, following a bloody three-month campaign.
For his actions, he received a personal message of appreciation from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Born in Kazakhstan, Gen. Mordvichev has served in the Russian army since 1997, holding various commanding roles since 2016.
His predecessor, Oleg Salyukov, 70, was dismissed by President Putin last week and promptly appointed deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council, an influential advisory body that convenes regularly with Mr. Putin.
