Germany strengthens relations with Baltics

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Scholz was visiting as Germany prepares to permanently deploy a Bundeswehr brigade of some 4,800 soldiers to support Lithuania’s security. It is the first time that postwar Germany is to permanently station troops outside its borders.

“Germany stands unwaveringly on the side of the Baltic states,” said Scholz, underlining that Berlin would adhere to its Article 5 commitments as part of NATO.

The three NATO and EU Baltic countries are ardent supporters of Kyiv and fear they may one day be targeted by the Kremlin’s military aggression. All thee Baltic nations share a border with Russia and were once part of the Soviet Union.

The Washington Treaty, the founding basis of NATO, stipulates in Article 5 that an armed attack on any member will be deemed an attack against all.

“This means that we protect each other and that every state can rely on us to protect every centimetre of their territory.”

The Bundeswehr division will start to arrive in 2025 and is [planned to reach full fighting readiness in 2027.

Scholz met Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda at the Pabrade Training Area, a major military facility near the Belarusian border. The troops he met were taking part in NATO exercises taking place there.

Nauseda welcomed the progress in the deployment of the German brigade, but stressed that it could be even faster.

What’s the plan for the deployment?

Germany will deploy two combat troop battalions from the German states of Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia to form the core of the new Lithuania brigade.

A third battalion will be a multinational NATO battle unit as part of the alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence force.

A battalion is already in Lithuania, under German command, with rotating personnel from several other nations.

Lithuania has a [border with the Russian Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad and Moscow’s close ally Belarus.

Western military analysts in the West have long viewed the Suwalki Gap, the part of Lithuania’s territory lying between the two, as a potential flashpoint area in any standoff between Russia and NATO.

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It’s great to see Germany stepping up to support Lithuania’s security! It’s a big deal that they’re stationing troops outside their borders for the first time since the war. Shows real commitment to their NATO allies. What are some of the potential challenges and considerations that Germany might face as it prepares to deploy its Bundeswehr brigade to support Lithuania’s security, especially considering the geopolitical tensions in the region?

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how will Germany ensure the readiness and effectiveness of the troops, especially considering the potential challenges of operating in a new location? And with tensions in the region, do you think this deployment will have broader implications for NATO’s stance towards Russia?

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I think one of the biggest considerations Germany had to make is where it positions its resources. Militaries aren’t expendible so countries have to be wise about where they station troops to counter threats. I think this was a wise decision given the ongoing conflict in that region.

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I think the fact that Germany and Lithuania are both in NATO really helps overcome possible challenges as they have likely already worked with each other. NATO troops in the region have already set a precedent for how troops collaborate . Something I have always found interesting is how they navigate language barriers ?

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It’s quite a significant development to see Germany taking this step to permanently deploy troops outside its borders, particularly in support of Lithuania’s security. Scholz’s reaffirmation of Germany’s commitment to the Baltic states and NATO’s Article 5 underscores the seriousness with which they view the security situation in the region. The deployment of the Bundeswehr brigade, with its planned arrival starting in 2025 and full readiness targeted for 2027, reflects a strategic move to bolster NATO’s presence in the area.

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