Merz and Pistorius start deployment again: Bundeswehr strengthens Lithuania!

Merz and Pistorius start deployment again: Bundeswehr strengthens Lithuania!

Federal Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius and Chancellor Friedrich Merz are traveling to Lithuania on Thursday to strengthen the Bundeswehr presence there. This is Pistorius' seventh visit to Lithuania since he took office less than two and a half years ago. Upon his arrival, Merz is received with military honors by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.

The trip includes several important program points, including a joint discussion, a working lunch and a press conference. The highlight of the visit will be participation in the formation roll call of the 45th Panzer Brigade at 2 p.m., followed by a speech by Merz and discussions with the soldiers on site. There are currently around 400 members of this brigade stationed in Lithuania, with a planned increase to 500 by the end of the year.

Formation of the 45th Panzer Brigade

The 45th Panzer Brigade is officially established as a full brigade of the German Army. By February 2026, 1,000 soldiers from the multinational battlegroup are to be integrated into the brigade. This would bring the total number of soldiers to approximately 1,800. In the long term, the aim is to increase the number to around 2,000 soldiers by mid-2026. The federal government also plans to station around 4,800 Bundeswehr soldiers and 200 civilian employees in Lithuania by 2027.

In addition to military measures, the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) will receive additional competencies in order to better protect the Bundeswehr during foreign missions. Chancellor Merz has set himself the goal of making the Bundeswehr the conventionally strongest army in Europe. The plans underline Lithuania's strategic importance, especially with regard to possible aggression from 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, strengthening the Bundeswehr presence and increasing the number of Panzer Brigade 45 is considered necessary. Loud rnd.de These measures show that Germany is ready to take responsibility in the region and expand its military capabilities.

The Bundeswehr's commitment in Lithuania not only strengthens the security of the region, but also strengthens cooperation within NATO. The visit by Merz and Pistorius marks a further step in this direction and reaffirms Germany's commitment to stable and secure defense structures in Europe.