Germany Accelerates 5,000-Person Brigade Deployment in Lithuania Bolstering Baltic Security

German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil visited Lithuania to reinforce Germany's commitment to European security and NATO solidarity with the Baltic states, including Latvia and Estonia. He announced an accelerated deployment of a German military brigade in Lithuania, which will grow to approximately 5,000 personnel, significantly enhancing NATO's eastern flank. Klingbeil highlighted Germany's recent decision to exempt defense spending from strict debt rules, enabling substantial investment increases to meet NATO's 3.5 percent defense spending target by 2029. During his visit, Klingbeil met with Baltic counterparts and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, and planned to visit the Bundeswehr's Lithuania brigade and a multinational NATO battle group led by Germany. Lithuanian Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius praised Germany's actions as a crucial step to bolster regional security and noted increased defense spending commitments by the Baltic nations. The German government also faces financial challenges in balancing its budget, with Klingbeil urging all ministries to identify savings to support defense and other priorities.