NATO troops formally join German-led brigade in Lithuania
The German armed forces continue to expand their brigade in Lithuania, with NATO troops already stationed in the Baltic state officially integrated into the Bundeswehr’s 45th Armored Brigade, also known as the Lithuanian Brigade, since Wednesday.
Soldiers from Lithuania’s multinational battle group are now also under the brigade’s command, bringing its local strength to around 1,700 troops.
Germany created the brigade in response to what it sees as a growing threat from Russia to NATO. The brigade was officially commissioned in April 2025 and is expected to become fully operational as a combat unit by 2027, with a total strength of 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilians.
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“Germany’s leading role in protecting NATO’s eastern flank is invaluable,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said in his speech at the ceremony in Kaunas. The brigade constitutes “the best deterrent” for Lithuania and the region, he said.
This deployment marks a historic departure for the Bundeswehr, as it is the first time that a major German combat formation has been permanently stationed abroad.
German Army Brigadier General Christoph Huber leads the training of troops during the official handover ceremony. German Army Brigade takes command of NATO combat unit in Lithuania. Alexandre Welscher/dpa
