Germany’s Permanent Lithuania Brigade Makes Progress, Aims for Full Deployment by 2027
Berlin, Germany – Germany’s permanent Lithuania Brigade, a key component of the country’s military presence in the Baltic region, has made significant progress, a spokesperson for the German Army announced on the eve of a visit by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to Lithuania on Thursday.
Currently, the brigade has around 400 personnel, with plans to increase the number to 500 by the end of the year, the spokesperson said. By February 2026, the brigade will be reinforced by approximately 1,000 soldiers from the multinational battle group, growing its strength to around 1,800 men and women by the end of that year and eventually reaching a total of around 2,000 by mid-2026.
The two combat battalions, the Panzer Battalion 203 in Augustdorf and the Panzergrenadier Battalion 122, will be gradually relocated from Germany to Lithuania, pending the creation of the necessary infrastructure. By 2027, the German Armed Forces aim to station around 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian employees in Lithuania.
“The interest in the Lithuanian population remains unbroken” the spokesperson said. “The troops will be warmly welcomed in the region, with schools, educational institutions and living quarters.”
The formal deployment of the Panzerbrigade 45, which Merz and Pistorius are scheduled to attend on Thursday, marks a significant step forward, as the brigade will not only bear the name “Lithuania” but also receive its flags and unit flag, effectively becoming a fully deployed brigade of the German Army.