The first soldiers of the German combat brigade for Lithuania will not be stationed in the Baltic country until the end of 2024 at the earliest. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said this at a security policy event in Berlin last week.
Pistorius called the plan to permanently station a German brigade (3,500 to 4,000 soldiers) in Lithuania a “huge task”. He himself had surprisingly announced the decision in June and had previously only discussed it with his Inspector General Carsten Breuer. Pistorius now also explained why he had not previously discussed his plans in the ministry.
The goal must be clearly defined
From his point of view, an internal discussion would have resulted in this being pushed through. In the public debate that followed, so many arguments would have come to the table that would have spoken against it, "that in the end no one would have jumped," according to the minister's thoughts.
He added: "And I am very firmly convinced that sometimes you have to clearly define the goal of where you want to go, and we did that, Carsten Breuer and I, and then I announced this decision."
Lithuania Brigade part of Division 2025
Pistorius emphasized that the decision was also discussed with NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), General Christopher Cavoli. The German Defense Minister is thus countering criticism that the permanent stationing of a brigade in Lithuania would run counter to NATO's plans.
Darüber hinaus werde die Litauen-Brigade Teil der Division sein, die Deutschland der NATO ab dem Jahr 2025 zugesagt hat, sagte der Verteidigungsminister. Auch sei es Teil der aktuellen Überlegungen, weitere Partnernationen, beispielsweise im Rahmen eines Bataillons, mit in die Planungen einzubeziehen.
SACEUR's plans actually envisage a flexible concept in which NATO forces are not stationed permanently on a section of the eastern flank, but are flexibly relocated to where a possible attack is assumed. One reason for this concept is the limited military resources of the defense alliance in relation to the length of the eastern flank.
Lithuania's geostrategic peculiarity
However, Pistorius sees Lithuania's geostrategic location, directly on the Suwalki Gap, as an important difference compared to Poland or Slovakia. Since the narrow corridor could very easily be closed in the event of a conflict between the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad in the west and Belarus in the east, it makes sense to have forces on site immediately, said the minister. This is the only way to prevent the Baltic states from being quickly overrun. Alternatively, one would have to wait two to three weeks until enough forces had been brought in before the reconquest could begin.
Growth dependent on infrastructure
How quickly the German brigade will grow in Lithuania from the end of 2024 depends on the existing infrastructure that is being built by the Lithuanians, Pistorius described the rough planning. In addition to military infrastructure, apartments, kindergartens and schools are also needed to accommodate the soldiers' families.
On September 20th, the minister will present the status of the current plans to the Bundestag's Defense Committee.
Editorial staff / oh
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