German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has reaffirmed Germany’s unwavering commitment to the defence of Lithuania, describing the Baltic nation’s security and freedom as inseparable from Germany’s own.
“The German brigade is the most visible sign of our unity; it is a model project reflecting a historic turning point. Our soldiers here in Lithuania reaffirm our Alliance’s promise, and that means: your security is our security, your freedom is our freedom,” he said at a joint press conference with Lithuania’s president in Vilnius on Sunday.
Germany is in the process of deploying a permanent brigade in Lithuania – a move described as unprecedented in post-Cold War German defence policy. The unit, to be stationed by the end of 2027, will comprise approximately of around 5,000 German troops and civilian personnel.
According to Steinmeier, the decision to deploy a brigade in Lithuania marks a shift in German public opinion.
He recalled his time as foreign minister, about a decade ago, when a decision was made to increase defence spending to 2% of GDP – a move that, owing to historical sensitivities, was initially met with scepticism by many Germans.
“In Germany now, many people view the deployment of the brigade in Lithuania positively. This indicates that society now understands we must invest more in defence. The German public has recognised that the architecture of European security has changed, that it could be destroyed by Russian aggression, and we must respond to this. Therefore, we are ready to invest more in armament and defence,” he stated.
The German president also noted that there is no shortage of volunteers in Germany willing to serve in Lithuania and welcomed the current domestic debate around the potential reintroduction of compulsory military service, which was suspended in Germany in 2011.
“We must continue this discussion because, if volunteers are not sufficient to fill the ranks, there will be gaps – and given the changed security situation in Europe, we will have no choice but to return to compulsory military service,” Steinmeier affirmed.
President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda emphasised that Lithuanian-German cooperation in the fields of security and defence has reached a historic high, with the German brigade known as Lithuania officially inaugurated in Vilnius just a month ago.
The Lithuanian government has moved swiftly to facilitate the brigade’s deployment: within two years of the initial decision, bilateral agreements have been concluded, construction of military infrastructure has begun in Rūdninkai, in the Šalčininkai district, and the brigade’s headquarters has been established. The first German troops have already arrived.
Lithuania, a NATO member since 2004, shares borders with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. The country has long voiced concerns over regional security, particularly since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Alongside the troop deployment, Lithuania and Germany are also strengthening industrial defence ties. According to President Nausėda, Lithuanian procurement of German military equipment now exceeds €2 billion – including Leopard 2 main battle tanks, Boxer armoured vehicles, and PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers. Construction of a Rheinmetall ammunition factory is due to begin shortly.
The two presidents also discussed improving military mobility across Europe – a long-standing NATO concern aimed at ensuring rapid troop and equipment movements in times of crisis.
Nausėda said Lithuania alone requires €3.5 billion for related infrastructure and stressed the importance of sufficient EU and allied funding for such strategic projects.
President Steinmeier is visiting Lithuania on Statehood Day, a national holiday marking the coronation of Mindaugas – the 13th-century monarch regarded as the first and only king of unified Lithuania.
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