2024-04-09 04:58:52
“We are at the beginning of a certain historical stage, when the permanent deployment of the German brigade in Lithuania becomes a reality. I am convinced that this is already an irreversible process,” Minister of National Defense Laurynas Kasčiūnas said at a press conference held on Monday.
The minister assured that the process of deploying German troops is going according to plan – in 2027, the German brigade should operate in Lithuania at full operational capacity.
L. Kasčiūnas indicated that only the initial control group arrived in Lithuania on Monday, another, larger group of soldiers is expected in autumn, and the main phase of the raising of German soldiers is planned for 2025-2026.
“We will create such a defense and deterrence architecture that no enemy from the east will even think about testing NATO’s Article 5,” L. Kasciūnas said.
It is planned that a total of 5 thousand people will move to Lithuania. Soldiers and civilians of the German brigade. L. Kasčiūnas indicated that it is currently estimated that a third of them could come with their families.
A little earlier, the minister indicated that the deployment of the German brigade would cost Lithuania about 800 million. euros.
When asked which country, Lithuania or Germany, will pay, for example, for the rental of German soldiers in Vilnius, L. Kasčiūnas indicated that specific amounts are still being negotiated between the countries.
“800 million EUR amount is the direction we see as the possible amount that will be needed for this whole big project. We are in the process, and we are also in the process of cost sharing,” the minister said little.
“The initial management group that arrived are people who will look for rent in Vilnius themselves,” added L. Kasčiūnas, indicating that he does not want to go into details yet, because the negotiations are still ongoing.
To Lithuania – voluntarily
Commander of the Land Forces of the German Army, Gen. Lt. Alfons Mais, for his part, indicated that the German soldiers coming to Lithuania made this decision voluntarily – according to him, practically the entire brigade will be filled only with soldiers coming to Lithuania voluntarily.
True, he stated that he could not specifically name how many soldiers will come to Lithuania with their families.
“It is a very complicated question, because we can order soldiers to come to Lithuania, but we cannot order their family members. It is a free choice. Each soldier makes his own decision – whether to come to Lithuania with his family or not,” said A. Mais.
At that time, the German ambassador to Lithuania, Cornelijus Zimmermann, added that the German side is interested in German soldiers coming to Lithuania with their families.
“We are interested in German soldiers coming with their families, both men and women, if they wish. We want to establish a closer relationship with Lithuanian society, because this is the only way to create trust and cooperation. And this is how greater security is ensured,” he assured.
The first soldiers who arrived in Lithuania will settle in Vilnius and will be responsible for planning the brigade’s transfer to Lithuania and coordinating the requirements for military infrastructure. And by the end of the year, the primary element of the headquarters, which has grown, will also be responsible for assisting in the transfer of German soldiers to serve in Lithuania.
Germany is committed to deploying a heavy brigade in Lithuania with three maneuver battalions and all necessary enablers, including combat support and supply units.
The brigade will consist of existing and newly formed units. The 203rd tank battalion from North Rhine-Westphalia and the 122nd armored infantry battalion from Bavaria will be transferred to Lithuania.
The combat group of the forward forces currently in Lithuania will be reformed into a multinational battalion and will become an integral part of the brigade.
It is expected that a total of about 5 thousand people will move to Lithuania. German brigade soldiers and civilians, some of them will come with their families.
There will be two places of service – Rūdninkai and Rukla, the soldiers and their families will live in Vilnius and Kaunas, and additionally logistic points will be created in other parts of Lithuania.
2024-04-09 04:58:52