German army strengthens protection of NATO's eastern flank

German soldiers on duty during the founding day of the Brigade in Lithuania. Photo: AP

Berlin's troop buildup on NATO's eastern flank is a signal to its allies about investing in security operations.

The German garrison in Lithuania marks the first time a German brigade has been deployed outside the country for an extended period since World War II.

At a meeting at the Presidential Palace, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda called the establishment of a German brigade stationed in the country a demonstration of the Berlin government's clear and strong commitment to ensuring the security not only of Vilnius but also of NATO's entire eastern flank.

Gitanas Nausėda called Germany's deployment of a permanent brigade abroad "a historic day and a day of trust, responsibility and action".

President Nausėda pledges Lithuania will achieve the defense budget target of 5% of GDP by 2026.

Germany has deployed troops in Lithuania — which borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Belarus — since 2017, as part of NATO's efforts to protect its eastern flank.

Since 2017, Germany has commanded a multinational battle group in Lithuania – one of four such battle units set up by NATO in the Baltic states and Poland to reinforce its eastern flank after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

An advance team began work on establishing the brigade more than a year ago and expanded it to an “activation team” of about 250 people last fall.

The new brigade is expected to reach full strength of around 5,000 by the end of 2027, with troops stationed at Rukla and Rudninkai.

The new German brigade in Lithuania is part of a European effort to boost regional defenses and counter pressure from US President Donald Trump to force allies to invest more in their own security, Reuters reported.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/quan-doi-duc-tang-cuong-bao-ve-suon-phia-dong-nato-post324700.html