On Monday, Germany began deploying troops to Lithuania, where they will be stationed permanently, marking the first deployment of its kind for the German military since World War II.
Only two dozen German soldiers have arrived in Lithuania so far, and the force will increase to 4,800 by 2027. Germany already leads a NATO deployment in Lithuania with 1,000 troops, but the new force will be permanent.
“This is the first time that we have permanently stationed such a unit outside of Germany,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at a farewell ceremony in Berlin, according to The Associated Press. He said the deployment was “an important day for the German army.”
Lithuania shares a border with Kaliningrad, the Russian Oblast on the Baltic Sea that’s separated from the Russian mainland. The country also borders Belarus, a treaty ally of Russia that now hosts Russian nuclear weapons.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas celebrated the German deployment and said it was an example of NATO’s Article V commitment, which outlines mutual defense. “We will create such a defense and deterrence architecture that no adversary from the east will even think about testing NATO’s Article 5,” he said.
Despite only having 15,000 active duty troops in its military, Lithuania has been extremely bellicose toward Russia. In 2022, Lithuania placed an embargo on sanctioned goods traveling to Kaliningrad through its territory by rail, which included basic goods such as concrete, wood, and alcohol. Lithuania quickly lifted the embargo due to pressure from the EU.
The idiocy of Nato’s inclusion of these pipsqueak countries could not be better demonstrated than by:
A tiny bellicose nation picking a fight with the Bear … what could possibly go wrong? And those 15,000 troops would hold up the Russians for about, what, two hours maybe once real war starts?
And no way in hell will Article 5 save their ass.
This is what they’re all scared about. Ukraine is showing that the messages from the USUK aren’t worth the napkin they are written on once the shooting starts with a competent enemy. They have only ever been it for the money, after all. Who in Peoria is willing to get nuked for Lithuania?
A pimple with a white head may seem scary at first, but you realize, it’s just a pimple.
A financial waste. Putin has no need or desire to push his army into NATO countries.
Sure, that’s cause you haven’t heard or choose to ignore statements from Kremlin officials and state controlled media anchors.
Also, Putin had no desire to push his Army into Ukraine neither until he did. Remember that big lie he try to sell us.
Putin is full of sh!t just like you.
Wow, This is definitely news…. but for the Z Army.
Wow, 4,800 German troops by 2027. When you add in the mighty forces of Lithuania, Moscow must be trembling in fear.
This is just so embarrassing.
“Deutschland, Deutschland über alles” (“Germany, Germany above all)
Nazi progeny retakes yappy Chihuahua Lithuania
““We will create such a defense and deterrence architecture that no
adversary from the east will even think about testing NATO’s Article 5,”
he said.”
In reality, it is Russia that is creating an “Iron Curtain 2.0” from the Black Sea to the Arctic, encompassing Ukraine, Belarus and new Military Districts on Russia territory further north “so that no adversary from the West will even think about testing” Russia.
Personally if I were Putin I’d take Lithuania just to insure Kaliningrad is secure – and just to slap that Defense Minister in the face.