Germany officially launched its first permanent foreign troop deployment since World War II A 5,000-strong armored brigade will be set up in Lithuania.

Visegrád 24

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Germany officially launched its first permanent foreign troop deployment since World War II A 5,000-strong armored brigade will be set up in Lithuania. The 45th Armored Brigade has been formally activated during a ceremony outside Vilnius. A temporary headquarters was established, with the brigade’s crest unveiled and the unit now officially under the command of Brigadier General Christoph Huber. The unit is set to be fully operational by 2027 and will eventually be based in a new military complex in Rūdninkai, roughly 30 kilometers south of Vilnius. Until then, troops will operate out of temporary Lithuanian bases. Currently, 150 German troops are stationed in Lithuania. That number is expected to reach 500 by year’s end. For NATO, the deployment represents a critical part of the alliance’s shift to deterrence by forward defense. For Germany, it’s a major step in shedding its reputation as a reluctant military power.

9:29 AM · Apr 11, 2025

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