Germany Deploys Troops Near Russia’s Border for First Time Since WWII——Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, said its troops would be stationed along NATO’s eastern flank in Lithuania, and the unit will be fully operational by 2027. This marks the first time soldiers from the country will be on a permanent foreign deployment since World War II.
“We have a clear mission. We have to ensure the protection, freedom and security of our Lithuanian allies here on NATO’s eastern flank,” said Brigadier General Christoph Huber, commander of the German brigade in the NATO ally.
Germany had previously deployed troops to Afghanistan, though not permanently.
Why It Matters
Lithuania borders Moscow’s ally Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which would likely be the location of any future hostilities between Moscow and the alliance.
The Baltic States, which Moscow controlled in Soviet times, have said that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not intend to stop his expansionism in Ukraine. Berlin and Vilnius’s move is the most direct response to that concern so far.
What To Know
A multiyear Roadmap Action Plan between Germany and Lithuania was agreed in December 2023.
Back then, both countries hailed the deal as a historic moment for them and NATO, as a move to bolster the alliance’s eastern flank in response to Russia’s aggression.
Last Updated on April 3, 2025 by Senel Media
