Klaipeda, 5 September 2022 (TDI): Germany and Lithuania implemented an agreement by which the Command and Control (C2) element of the German 41 Brigade arrived in Lithuania, on Sunday.
The German Brigades have ammunition, equipment, and other logistical means. Moreover, this brigade’s troops will also soon participate in drills with the Lithuanian Army.
🇱🇹🇩🇪Willkommen! The agreement between Lithuania & Germany is being implemented: Forward C2 element of 🇩🇪41 Brigade arrived to Lithuania today, with their equipment, ammunition & other logistical means. Troops of this brigade will soon take part in exercises together w/ @LTU_Army. pic.twitter.com/Zf5cnIxswD
— Lithuanian MOD 🇱🇹 (@Lithuanian_MoD) September 4, 2022
Furthermore, following decisions made at the NATO Summit in Madrid in July 2022, the allied capabilities are deployed under Germany and Lithuania. This strongly emphasizes NATO unity in front of the international world.
Forward C2 element of 🇩🇪41 Brigade arrived today to #Lithuania. Allied capabilities are deployed under 🇱🇹🇩🇪 bilateral agreement following #NATOsummit decisions in #Madrid. This sends a strong message of #NATOUnity! Herzlich Willkoment, Dear Friends! pic.twitter.com/dee1J8xwtr
— Lithuanian_Armed_Forces (@LTU_Army) September 4, 2022
NATO’s Eastern Flank in Lithuania
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany pledged to increase its presence on NATO’s eastern border. On Sunday, about a hundred German soldiers landed in Lithuania. Moreover, the troops drove off the ferry in the port city of Klaipeda.
German Brigade’s Commander Christian Nawrat stated, “Our message to our allies here, on the eastern flank, is that we are committed to ensuring security.” Additionally, he said, “The command unit would remain permanently in the Baltic nation, while combat units would join them for exercises.”
They were to create a new brigade’s leadership unit, which typically consists of 4,000 soldiers. The first training exercises would take place in October.
Around 1,500 German soldiers are already stationed in Lithuania as a NATO combat group. The formerly Soviet-ruled Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are all now members of the EU and NATO.
Also Read: German Chancellor visits Lithuania for security talks
In recent years, NATO has fortified its eastern side, especially in light of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. In 2017, the three Baltic nations as well as Poland received the deployment of four multinational battle groups.
NATO has decided to establish four additional combat units in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia in response to the beginning of the Russian invasion in late February.