“We are concentrating on the permanently deployed brigade in Lithuania, but we forget that today we have an already assigned brigade here. And if sometimes indications show that there is a threat, that brigade will be here, in Lithuania, here and now,” V. Rupšys told journalists at a press conference on Friday.
“We signed a plan back in January on how Germany will deploy here and how we will be prepared. (…) But the bottom line is that as soon as we are ready, then Germany will deploy (the brigade – ELTA), V. Rupšys told reporters in Nemenčinė on Friday.
He was seconded by R. von Butler, emphasizing that the German forces currently in Lithuania can be activated at any time if necessary.
“Don’t forget that we already have many other measures in Lithuania – here is the Increased Vigilance Brigade (…), if necessary, it can be activated in a short time. The deployment of a permanent brigade is an additional guarantee of security. Therefore, it is not the case that there are supposedly no German forces in Lithuania”, said R. von Butler.
“I can understand the impatience and that we need to act as soon as possible.” (…) But let’s not forget that we already have other measures,” emphasized the German division commander.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Lithuania this week. During the joint press conference, President G. Nausėda mentioned that the deployment of the permanent German brigade in the country must be done even faster.
“I am happy with the progress of the deployment of the brigade, but our strategic security environment requires an even faster pace, we do not have the luxury of wasting a single minute,” said G. Nausėda during O. Scholz’s visit on Monday.
ELTA reminds that the first element of the German brigade arrived in Lithuania in April – over 20 soldiers who will be responsible for planning the brigade’s transfer to Lithuania and coordinating the requirements for military infrastructure. Also, by the end of the year, the primary element of the headquarters, which will be raised, will help with the transfer of German soldiers to the country.
In total, it is intended to transfer about 5 thousand people to Lithuania. Soldiers and civilians of the German brigade. Some of them will come with their families.
It is planned that the majority of the brigade will be transferred to Lithuania by 2026. According to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the brigade will gain full operational capacity in 2027.
Berlin undertook to deploy a brigade-sized military unit in Lithuania in the summer of 2022 – such an agreement is provided for in the communique signed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Gitan Nausėda.
