Germany fully capable of deploying troops to Lithuania, defence ministry says

A senior official from Germany’s defence ministry has stated that the country is fully capable of deploying the required number of troops to Lithuania as part of its brigade commitment.

State Secretary Jan Stöß of the German Defence Ministry confirmed on Friday during a visit to the Rūdninkai training ground that Germany expects no issues in meeting its troop deployment targets. “We are fully capable. There are already 2,000 soldiers here in Lithuania, and we expect 5,000 next year. Some specialists may require extra effort, but we are optimistic about next year,” he said.

Earlier in June, German media reported that the Bundeswehr was struggling to recruit the necessary number of soldiers on a voluntary basis, which could require conscription. One of the biggest challenges noted is that lower-ranking soldiers are less inclined to relocate to the barracks in Rūdninkai compared to higher-ranking personnel, who prefer to settle in Vilnius or Kaunas.

Stöß also noted that German soldiers were satisfied and “surprised” by the conditions at the training ground. “We just visited the new buildings, and everyone was surprised by the high standards,” he said.

On Friday, construction began on the second phase of the Rūdninkai military base, valued at approximately €1.3 billion. This phase will include residential facilities, garages, workshops, dining halls, warehouses, parade grounds, headquarters, and fuel stations for the troops. Training facilities with modern simulation systems are also planned. The military base will cover 190 hectares, comparable in size to a small town.

Germany plans to deploy a brigade of around 4,000–5,000 soldiers to Lithuania by the end of 2027, while Lithuania has committed to preparing the necessary infrastructure.