Information
On Monday, a pioneering group of German soldiers arrived in Lithuania to commence the establishment of a new brigade permanently stationed on NATO’s eastern border. This advance team marks the initial step in setting up the base, with expectations that approximately 4,800 German soldiers will eventually join to complete the brigade, named Panzerbrigade 45. Scheduled to be fully operational by 2027, this initiative represents a significant shift for Germany, as it is the first occasion the nation has stationed such a unit outside its borders permanently. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius highlighted the significance of this deployment during a farewell ceremony in Berlin, underscoring the historical nature of the endeavour.
The strategic decision for Germany to station a brigade in Lithuania stems from the country’s geopolitical location, sandwiched between the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Belarus, a close ally of Russia. This positioning makes Lithuania the most vulnerable NATO member on its eastern flank, according to the German army, or Bundeswehr. In response to increasing tensions and the aggressive posture exhibited by Russia, notably after its invasion of Ukraine, the establishment of the new military base by Germany’s Defense Ministry aims to deter further Russian aggression towards its neighbours. The deployment of Panzerbrigade 45 to Lithuania, as described by Pistorius, signifies an essential development for the Bundeswehr, underscoring its commitment to reinforcing NATO’s eastern defence and enhancing regional security.
Source: DPA, AFP
Assessment
While this improves the security situation for Lithuania and Poland, it is also likely that this will increase regional tensions. Regardless of the consistent statement from the West that NATO is only a defensive alliance, this movement of troops plays into Russia’s narrative that they are under constant siege by NATO. It is highly likely that Russia will quickly turn this deployment into anti-NATO propaganda, despite their continuous threats towards Baltic states.
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