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Germany has taken a historic leap in European defense policy, deploying its first permanent foreign military brigade since World War II. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz officially inaugurated the 45th Armored Brigade in Lithuania on May 22, 2025.

The newly stationed brigade represents a profound strategic shift in Germany’s military posture and comes amid heightened concerns over Russian aggression. “This is a historic day,” said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda following a meeting with Merz. “This is a day of trust, responsibility, and action,” he added.  

The brigade, which will eventually consist of 4,800 German troops and 200 civilian staff, is slated to reach full operational strength by 2027. Troops will be stationed in the Lithuanian towns of Rukla and Rudninkai, marking a significant expansion from Germany’s previous rotational presence in the country since 2017.

“Protecting Vilnius is protecting Berlin”

The official ceremony was held in the rainy cathedral square of Vilnius and featured a flyover of military helicopters and a parade of hundreds of troops. Merz’s message was clear: “Protecting Vilnius is protecting Berlin.”

Merz emphasized that Germany is not only reinforcing its military abroad but also investing heavily in its armed forces. “Germany is investing massively in its armed forces,” he stated.

“With this, we also want to send a signal to our allies: let us now invest with determination in our security. Together with our partners, we are determined to defend alliance territory against every aggression. The security of our Baltic allies is also our security,” Merz said.

Strategic response to Russian threats

The deployment is widely viewed as a direct response to Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and ongoing fears that Moscow may seek to extend its territorial ambitions to the Baltic. Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia have repeatedly expressed concern about their vulnerability due to geographic proximity to Russia and its ally Belarus.

At a press conference alongside Nauseda, Merz warned of “Russia’s aggressive revisionism” and its attempts to “redraw the European map,” adding that such actions posed “grave security risks for the entire continent, not only Ukraine.”

Lithuania shares a border with both Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, making it a frontline NATO state. “We understand the threat and believe that we can face up to the threat with our allies,” Nauseda affirmed.

Germany’s increasing defense spending

Chancellor Merz, a former Bundeswehr officer, has doubled down on his commitment to increasing the country’s defense spending. In his inaugural address to parliament, he declared, “The government will in the future provide all the financing the Bundeswehr needs to become the strongest conventional army in Europe.”

Germany has already reached NATO’s 2% defense spending target, largely due to a $113 billion special modernization fund established after Russia invaded Ukraine. But with that fund set to expire in 2027, Merz’s government is moving to unlock more sustained defense funding by loosening constitutional restrictions on borrowing.

“This is appropriate for Europe’s most populous and economically powerful country,” Merz said. “Our friends and partners also expect this from us. Indeed, they practically demand it.”

Leap toward 5% defense spending

In a further sign of shifting defense priorities, Lithuania announced in January that it would raise its defense spending to between 5% and 6% of GDP by the next few years, becoming the first NATO country to commit to a goal long advocated by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Merz said that Germany aims to reach a combined 5% of GDP by 2032, with 3.5% devoted to military procurement and 1.5% to military-relevant infrastructure like roads, ports, and bridges. “Those figures seem sensible to us; they also seem reachable, at least in the period until 2032 that has been stipulated,” he noted.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius echoed Merz’s resolve, calling the Lithuania deployment “a clear signal to any potential adversary.” Pistorius, who served under Scholz as well, reaffirmed Germany’s readiness “to defend every square inch of NATO territory.”

Concerns over the US commitment

The German announcement also comes amid increasing unease in Europe about the future of the U.S. commitment to NATO, particularly considering Trump’s previous threats to reduce U.S. troop deployments in Europe and his mixed signals regarding Ukraine’s defense.

Asked about this, Merz clarified, “I do not indicate that the US would withdraw troops from Europe,” reaffirming Berlin’s intention to “play in a team with the US” wherever possible.

Germany’s internal military challenges

While Berlin’s external show of strength has drawn praise, the move also reveals internal challenges for the Bundeswehr. Among them: finding enough personnel willing to serve long-term abroad. The Bundestag has responded with legislation offering more flexible hours, increased allowances, and higher overtime pay to make foreign postings more appealing.

Lithuania’s Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene stressed the urgency of credible deterrence. Echoing Pistorius, she warned that Russia could be able to attack a NATO member within five years. “Every Lithuanian knows, if the Russians come, no one will be spared,” she said.

The deployment of a permanent German brigade to Lithuania marks a pivotal moment in European security, symbolizing both Germany’s renewed military ambition and its commitment to NATO solidarity. It sends a loud message to allies and adversaries alike: Germany is back as a full-fledged military power in Europe, determined to protect the continent’s eastern frontier from external threats.