Overview
- Defense Minister Boris Pistorius visited the Pabrade training area on Monday to observe Freedom Shield 2026, the first large exercise of the permanently stationed Panzerbrigade 45.
- Roughly 2,900 troops and about 800 vehicles from eight NATO countries took part in the exercise, including about 2,300 German personnel operating at Pabrade near the Belarus border.
- About 1,800 Bundeswehr personnel are already stationed in Lithuania as Germany works to grow the formation to roughly 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian staff by the end of 2027.
- Lithuania is fast-tracking a new military hub at Rudninkai with barracks, depots and family housing and says construction is ahead of schedule to host several thousand Germans and dependents.
- German officials say they plan to fill most roles with volunteers but warn of shortfalls in technical, logistics and CBRN specialties that could force compulsory assignments and affect the brigade's planned readiness.