"Germany Forms New Brigade to Bolster Baltic Defense Amid Russian Threat" – German Brigade Headquarters

"Germany Forms New Brigade to Bolster Baltic Defense Amid Russian Threat" – German Brigade Headquarters
Vilnius, May 23, 2025

According to a Reuters report, during a military ceremony held Thursday in Vilnius to mark the establishment of a German brigade in Lithuania, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germany and its NATO allies are prepared to defend every inch of NATO territory.

This brigade, consisting of thousands of troops stationed on NATO’s eastern flank, is part of broader efforts to strengthen European security. It comes in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and mounting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump on allies to invest more in their own defense.

“Anyone who challenges NATO must know that we are ready. Anyone who threatens a NATO ally must understand that the entire alliance will unite to defend every inch of NATO territory,” Merz said, addressing attendees at the roll call ceremony for the newly formed 45th Armored Brigade.

He added, “Defending Vilnius means defending Berlin,” and assured the enthusiastic audience that “the people of Lithuania can count on Germany.”

Merz was joined at the event by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. President Nausėda noted that Russia and Belarus have conducted military exercises along Lithuania’s borders.

The three Baltic nations—Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia—are linked to NATO’s main territory by only a narrow corridor known as the Suwalki Gap, which is widely considered one of the most vulnerable areas to a potential Russian assault.

The headquarters of the German brigade will be located in the Rudninkai area near the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius.

Approximately 400 German military personnel have already arrived in Lithuania. Once fully operational by the end of 2027, the brigade will consist of 4,800 troops and 2,000 vehicles, including a dozen tanks.

Defense Investment Boom

Chancellor Merz described Russia as a threat to Europe’s peace and order, citing its war in Ukraine and hybrid attacks involving espionage, sabotage, and cyber warfare across Europe.

He affirmed Germany’s awareness of its responsibilities and pledged to modernize the long-neglected German armed forces, the Bundeswehr. His predecessor, Olaf Scholz, had made a similar pledge in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Our goal is to provide all future financial support needed to turn the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest conventional armed force,” Merz said.

Since 2017, Germany has led a multinational battle group in Lithuania, one of four such units NATO established in the Baltic states and Poland following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea.

As part of its military modernization strategy, Germany relaxed its constitutional debt limit in March and significantly increased its defense spending.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, echoing U.S. President Trump’s stance, stated that NATO’s defense spending should be raised to 5% of GDP.