„This is a historic decision for both Lithuania and Germany. It will significantly increase our defence potential and strengthen NATO's deterrence and collective defence“, Anušauskas said after the signing.
Germany has committed to deploy a heavy brigade with three manoeuvre battalions and all necessary enablers, including combat support and supply units.
„Most of the brigade will be based at the Rūdnininkai military training ground, with the remainder at Rukla, where allied troops are still deployed. Other locations in Lithuania are foreseen to establish logistic points for the brigade.
The soldiers and their families will be based in Vilnius and Kaunas. Together, we will make sure that they have access to education, health and other services in their mother tongue and that their second halves have the opportunity to join the labour market.
I do not doubt that the soldiers and their families will become a fully-fledged part of our society,“ said the Minister.
According to Anušauskas, the initial stage of the transfer of the German Brigade to Lithuania had already begun.
„The initial team will arrive in the spring of next year, and by the end of the year, it will grow to a redeployment element of the brigade based in Vilnius,“ he explained.
In the meantime, the brigade units' main relocation will occur between 2025 and 2026, according to the Minister. By 2027, the German Brigade should be fully operational.
Anušauskas stressed that the threats to Lithuania and all NATO member states do not change, so all NATO countries must clearly understand all possible scenarios.
„Russia's aggressive foreign policy continues to be the biggest threat, as evidenced by the war in Ukraine. I believe that, in perspective, we need to see the best possible scenarios for the international situation and the worst.
Therefore, we need to be prepared, and I am pleased that the German Brigade in Lithuania will be focused on being fully prepared to execute the tasks foreseen in the approved NATO Regional Defence Plans,“ the Minister said.
However, Anušauskas acknowledged that Lithuania will still have to find ways to ensure sustainable financing of the brigade's needs.
„This is a big challenge for both the Government and the Seimas. This year and next, we will use the money we have already planned, which is certainly considerable amount.
Of course, financial resources will be needed as the infrastructure construction work progresses. Some of it is planned, but as the scope of the work has expanded somewhat from the original plans, we will certainly need to consider additional funding and sustainable sources,“ the Minister said.
German Defence Minister: 'Not everyone had confidence that we would make it happen' „
If things continue at this pace, next year I will already be applying for Lithuanian citizenship,“ joked German Defence Minister Pistorius, noting that he had already visited Lithuania four times.
The German Defence Minister stressed that the Bundeswehr has never permanently deployed so many troops abroad.
However, this will not be a cheap project – Pistorius pointed out that the brigade costs Berlin between €25–30 million per month.
„Not everyone had confidence that we would implement this, that we would succeed, but it has only taken six months from the decision to the action plan, which is a great achievement. Some people are impatient and ask why the brigade is not there yet, but everyone working on this topic knows that this is a huge task and it is impossible to implement this project in a few weeks,“ said Pistorius.
Pistorius pointed out that the brigade deployed in Lithuania would be under the command of a German division.
The brigade will be composed of existing and newly formed units. The 203rd Tank Battalion from North Rhine-Westphalia and the 122nd Armoured Infantry Battalion from Bavaria will be transferred to Lithuania.
The Forward Presence Battlegroup currently deployed in Lithuania will be transformed into a multinational battalion and become an integral part of the brigade.
In total, around 5,000 German Brigade soldiers and civilians are expected to move to Lithuania, some of them with their families. The first unit and organisational headquarters of the Armoured Brigade are scheduled to arrive in Lithuania in 2024.