Germany’s 45th Armoured Brigade, also known as Lithuania Brigade, was officially inaugurated in Vilnius on Thursday.
The ceremony was attended by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, his Lithuanian counterpart Dovilė Šakalienė, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
The deployment of the brigade was “an exceptional event in our country’s history”, said Nausėda.
“Their arrival reflects the shared values of Lithuania and Germany, our time-tested friendship, and ultimately, the remarkable progress of our strategic partnership in recent years,” he added.
Nausėda later addressed the German troops in German, thanking them for their presence in Lithuania.
Chancellor Merz added that by standing together, Lithuania and Germany were showing they were ready to defend Europe’s freedom against any aggressor.
“Lithuania’s security is our security. The defence of Vilnius is the defence of Berlin. Our shared peace knows no geographic limits – it ends where we stop defending it,” said Merz.
“That is why we are here today, and why we will stay. Germany honours its commitments not only in words, but in deeds – today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes,” he added.
‘Our enemies do not intimidate us’
Defence Minister Šakalienė said during the ceremony that Lithuania fully understood the effort it had taken Germany to reach the decision to deploy the brigade and expressed sincere gratitude.
“Lithuania is proud to stand alongside such a partner,” she said.
She noted that Lithuania, having suffered under past occupations, had long felt abandoned and betrayed, but that was no longer the case.
“Allied troops are now stationed here, ready to defend our people and our land alongside our soldiers. The story of the German brigade is a story of our success,” said Šakalienė.
“Today, standing united with our German allies, we once again declare: the enemies of the past did not break us, and the enemies of the future do not intimidate us,” the minister said.
German Defence Minister Pistorius said the newly inaugurated brigade would be “combat-ready and stationed at the frontline.”
“This day marks a significant step forward. What began as a small nucleus has become a large and growing force,” he said.
‘A historic day’
Hundreds of people attended the ceremony at the Cathedral Square on Thursday.
Among them was Janina, a 22-year-old international relations student from Germany currently on placement in Lithuania.
“This is a historic day not only for Lithuania but also for Germany. [...] I believe the decision to deploy the brigade is extremely important given the current security situation in Europe. It is a major step for Germany, as the country is finally taking on more responsibility for Europe’s security,” Janina said.
Also watching the ceremony was Pranciškus Jasiulevičius, a 75-year-old retiree, who told BNS it was a highly significant day for Lithuania.
“This is important for Lithuania because of the country’s defence. We hope the presence of the brigade will offer greater deterrence against threats from the East,” he said.
“This is a great decision by Germany, because it’s not just about Lithuania – they are also defending Europe,” he added.
Nearly 1,000 troops were lined up in Cathedral Square, including representatives from the German Armed Forces’ 10th Armoured Division Headquarters, the 45th Armoured Brigade, the 122nd Armoured Infantry and 203rd Tank Battalions. They stood alongside members of NATO’s multinational battlegroup and soldiers of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Merz: You can count on us
Speaking during a joint press conference with Nausėda earlier on Thursday, Merz said: "Dear Lithuanians, you can count on Germany."
He also expressed gratitude for the warm reception – something that could not be taken for granted, according to Merz.
"The trust that we show each other today is not a matter that is taken for granted when we look from the historic perspective,” the chancellor said.
“Today, we are together drawing the right conclusions from the darkest part of our history, and we have drawn the right conclusions over the past decades, not only through words, but also through deeds. Today, we are allies within the North Atlantic Alliance and members of the same European family," he added.
According to the German chancellor, "Russia's aggressive revisionism" threatens not only Ukraine's territorial integrity, but also the common security of Europe.
"We are deploying a full brigade in Lithuania for this purpose. Together with Lithuania, we have created all the necessary conditions for this to happen at a record pace, and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this. I am grateful to the Lithuanian people, to the Lithuanian government, and to our troops and soldiers, who have done a truly great job," Merz underlined.
At the press conference, Nausėda said Lithuania's top priority was to "fully prepare for the brigade’s arrival by 2027".
"we have pooled all the necessary resources for it," he added.
To be stationed by 2027
According to the Lithuanian Defence Ministry, the relocation of the German brigade to Lithuania is moving forward smoothly under the action plan signed in December 2023.
"The 45th German Brigade reached full headquarters capability on April 1, 2025. There are 500 German Brigade military personnel stationed in Lithuania at the moment, while the full warfighting capability of 5,000 military and civilian personnel, required equipment, gear and stocks will be reached in 2027," the ministry said in a press release.
The initial command element responsible for planning the brigade's relocation arrived in Lithuania in April 2024.
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