Germany inaugurated its first permanent brigade outside the country since WWII in Lithuania, bolstering NATO's eastern flank amid ongoing Russian aggression concerns. Chancellor Merz emphasized the shared security interests between Germany and its Baltic allies, stating that protecting Vilnius is protecting Berlin. The 4,500-strong brigade, reaching full strength by 2027, signifies Germany's increased military investment and commitment to NATO defense. This deployment comes as Germany increases defense spending to meet NATO targets and Lithuania plans to allocate 5-6% of its GDP to defense.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.