Overview
- Germany's 45th Armoured Brigade is now operational in Lithuania, with 400 soldiers stationed as part of a 2023 NATO agreement to strengthen the alliance's eastern flank.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius attended the induction ceremony in Vilnius on May 22, 2025, marking a significant milestone in Germany's defense policy.
- The brigade is set to expand to 2,000 troops by mid-2026 and 5,000 personnel, including 200 civilians, by 2027, reinforcing NATO's deterrence capabilities near the Russian border.
- Germany is increasing its defense spending with plans to raise military budgets annually, aiming to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2032, as part of ambitions to build Europe's most powerful conventional army.
- Baltic NATO members remain vigilant against Russian intelligence operations, including recent spy plane and drone surveillance incidents targeting NATO exercises in the region.