Source: Global Times
[Global Times Report, Intern Reporter Yan Peiyun] According to a report by Politico, Germany officially launched its first permanent overseas garrison plan since World War II on April 1 - deploying an armored brigade of 5,000 troops in Lithuania. Politico reported that Berlin's move aims to strengthen the defense of NATO's eastern flank in response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
On April 8, 2024, the advance team of the German Federal Defense Forces arrived in Lithuania. Photo source: foreign media.
Politico cited a message from a German military lobbying group saying that this newly established 45th Armored Brigade was officially commissioned at a ceremony held in the outskirts of Vilnius. A temporary command post was set up and the brigade emblem was unveiled during the ceremony.
The report said that the brigade is expected to be fully operational by 2027 and will be stationed at a new military base near Rudninkai inside Lithuania, located about 30 kilometers south of Vilnius. Before then, the brigade will operate from temporary bases in Lithuania.
The report mentioned that currently, 150 German soldiers are stationed in Lithuania, and it is expected to increase to 500 by the end of this year.
Previously, German news agencies such as Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported that in response to the changing security situation in Europe after the escalation of the Ukraine crisis, Germany decided to station a "combat-capable" force in Lithuania to "ensure the security of NATO's eastern flank." Lithuania is a member of both NATO and the European Union.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7488338331345764876/
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