Germany plans to move most brigade troops to Lithuania in 2027

Germany’s brigade deployment to Lithuania is proceeding smoothly, with most troops expected to arrive in the second half of 2027, LRT reported, citing Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence.

The ministry said German representatives presented a draft relocation plan at the 11th meeting of the joint working group. The two sides discussed progress on logistics, infrastructure and other strategic priorities. They are due to finalise the plan at a conference in November.

The draft says the main movement of troops will take place in the second half of 2027, with the aim of having a fully combat-capable German brigade in Lithuania by the end of that year. The 45th Armoured Brigade Lithuania was officially inaugurated in Vilnius Cathedral Square on Thursday.

By the end of 2026, about 2,000 soldiers and civilian personnel are expected to serve under the brigade’s banner. The number is projected to approach 5,000 by the end of 2027.

The brigade’s permanent base will be the Rūdninkai military training area, where infrastructure is being developed. Work on the first phase is nearing completion, while the second phase is underway, including construction of buildings, engineering networks, modern firing-range complexes and other facilities.

Infrastructure work is also taking place elsewhere. A permanent logistics area has been completed in Rukla, work on the Upper Neris terraces is due to gather pace soon, and logistics facilities are being developed in other parts of Lithuania.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the deployment would be completed on schedule and that Lithuania was working to remove any obstacles. Lithuania and Germany also honoured people who contributed to the brigade’s deployment. Peggy Grosse, head of the German Defence Ministry’s liaison office at Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence, received a ministry medal for civilians for her contribution to developing military infrastructure for the brigade. Arvydas Gruodis, head of the ministry’s Infrastructure Management Division in its Logistics Department, received an award from Germany’s defence minister.

In 2023, the defence ministers of Lithuania and Germany signed a joint action plan for deploying a German army brigade in Lithuania, BNS reported.