Overview
- On January 5, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited Vilnius and the Bundeswehr’s Lithuania-based brigade, stressing that protecting Vilnius means protecting Berlin.
- Germany highlighted ongoing force posture on NATO’s eastern flank, including a permanent brigade in Lithuania and two Eurofighters newly stationed in Malbork, Poland, for airspace surveillance.
- Officials said the legal review of the U.S. operation that captured Nicolás Maduro is not yet concluded, while Wadephul stated Maduro is not the legitimately elected president.
- Wadephul described 2026 as a decisive year for European security and underscored that transatlantic cooperation remains central to supporting Ukraine and deterring Russia.
- He signaled further coordination this week, including Paris talks on Ukraine, and voiced support for Denmark regarding threats to Greenland within NATO discussions.