The chairman of the Defense Committee in the German Bundestag, Thomas Röwekamp (CDU), said that the Bundeswehr would be compelled to deploy soldiers to Lithuania if voluntary enlistments continue to fall short. “The Bundeswehr relies on voluntarism, and that remains the right principle” he told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” adding, “but if the number of volunteers is insufficient for an essential security mission such as the brigade in Lithuania, the service must be imposed in a non‑voluntary manner”. Röwekamp emphasized that those who choose to pursue a military career are taking responsibility for protecting peace, freedom, and our alliance partners-responsibility that extends beyond national borders and includes duty where deterrence ensures peace, such as in Lithuania.
Earlier, “Der Spiegel” reported, citing a confidential Ministry of Defense memorandum, that there were too few volunteers, especially at the enlisted‑rank levels, for the NATO east‑flank mission. Between 2024 and 2027, Germany plans to station 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian personnel permanently in Lithuania. Presently, only about 1,700 to 1,800 Bundeswehr members are stationed there, with the goal of reaching 2,000 by the end of the year.