World

Germany revives military assertiveness with first foreign troop deployment since world war II
DDM News

Published

1 month ago

May 23, 2025

For the first time since the end of World War II, Germany has permanently deployed a military brigade outside its borders.

This historic decision was marked by an official ceremony in Vilnius, Lithuania, where German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius participated in the roll call of the German Armed Forces’ 45th Armored Brigade.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that this move is seen as a significant deepening of Germany’s military commitment to NATO and its eastern European allies.

The deployment signals a major policy shift for Berlin, which had long maintained a cautious military posture rooted in post-war pacifism.

Speaking during the event, Chancellor Merz emphasized Germany’s dedication to collective defense.

He declared that the security of NATO’s Baltic members, including Lithuania, is inseparable from Germany’s own national security.

“We are sending a clear message,” Merz said. “The security of our Baltic allies is also our security.”

The 45th Armored Brigade is expected to reach full operational capacity by the end of 2027.

Once complete, the brigade will comprise approximately 5,000 troops stationed across key locations in Lithuania, particularly Rukla and Rudninkai.

Germany has maintained a rotational military presence in Lithuania since 2017.

This initial deployment was part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative, launched in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Lithuania shares a border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and with Belarus, a close ally of Moscow.

Given rising tensions in Eastern Europe and ongoing concerns about Russian intentions, Germany’s latest move is widely interpreted as a deterrent against future aggression.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda hailed the deployment as a pivotal moment in regional security.

“This is a historic day,” Nausėda stated. “This is a day of trust, responsibility, and action.”

The establishment of the brigade began over a year ago with a small advance unit.

This unit grew into an activation team of 250 personnel by late 2024, laying the groundwork for the brigade’s full deployment.

The 45th Armored Brigade will include heavy armor, support vehicles, and logistical operations, establishing a permanent and formidable German footprint in the Baltic region.

Chancellor Merz also called on other NATO countries to follow Germany’s example by increasing their defense spending and troop commitments.

He said Berlin’s decision should inspire broader European cooperation on security matters.

Analysts note that this move represents a broader shift in German defense policy under Merz’s leadership.

Germany has gradually increased its military budget and modernized its forces following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Merz, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has pushed for a more assertive German role in global security.

Defense Minister Pistorius echoed this sentiment, saying that Germany must be prepared for new security realities in Europe.

He described the Lithuanian deployment as “an important part of ensuring peace and stability.”

The move has been welcomed by NATO leadership and by Baltic states who have long advocated for a stronger presence on the alliance’s eastern frontier.

With this deployment, Germany joins the ranks of countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, which have also placed permanent or semi-permanent forces in Eastern Europe.