Merz and Pistorius start again: Bundeswehr strengthens Lithuania!

Merz and Pistorius start again: Bundeswehr strengthens Lithuania!

Litauen, Land - Federal Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz Reisen to Lithuania on Thursday to strengthen the Bundeswehr presence there. This is already the seventh visit by Pistorius in Lithuania since taking office less than two and a half years ago. Merz will be welcomed by military honor by the Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.

The trip includes several important program items, including a joint conversation, a work -lunch and a press conference. The highlight of the visit will be the participation in the installation appeal of the Panzerbrigade 45 at 2 p.m., followed by a speech by Merz and talks with the soldiers on site. Around 400 members of this brigade are currently stationed in Lithuania, with a planned increase to 500 until the end of the year.

installation of the Panzerbrigade 45

The Panzerbrigade 45 is officially set up as a full -fledged brigade of the German army. By February 2026, 1,000 soldiers from the multinational battle roup are to be integrated into the brigade. This would increase the total number of soldiers to around 1,800. In the long term, an increase is aimed at around 2,000 soldiers by mid -2026. In addition, the federal government is planning to station around 4,800 Bundeswehr soldiers and 200 civilian employees in Lithuania by 2027.

In addition to the military measures, the military shielding service (MAD) will receive additional skills to better protect the Bundeswehr for missions abroad. Chancellor Merz has set itself the goal of making the Bundeswehr the conventionally strongest army in Europe. The plans underline the strategic importance of Lithuania, especially with regard to possible aggression of Russia.

future importance of Lithuania for NATO

experts expect Lithuania to play a special role within NATO in the coming years. In a changing security policy environment, the strengthening of the Bundeswehr presence and the increase in Panzerbrigade 45 is considered necessary. According to rnd.de , these measures are ready to take responsibility in the region and its military skills to expand.

With the commitment of the Bundeswehr in Lithuania, not only the security of the region is strengthened, but also consolidated cooperation within NATO. The visit of Merz and Pistorius marks another step in this direction and confirms Germany's commitment to stable and secure defense structures in Europe.