Germany has launched its first deployment of troops abroad since the end of World War II, sending 5,000 soldiers to Lithuania to counter the growing threat from Russia under President Vladimir Putin.
This decision marks a major turning point in Germany's military policy after World War II, which has rejected any form of militarism due to the trauma caused by the Nazi regime and the consequences of the war.
Together with its NATO allies, Germany has decided to defend the eastern side of Europe by creating a new armored brigade, the 45th Armored Brigade, activated for this mission. This new unit will be based in Lithuania and aims to ensure the protection of Lithuanian allies and defend NATO territory, including Germany.
The Brigade Command is located in Vilnius, under the leadership of Brigadier General Christoph Huber.
Despite the fact that Lithuania does not have a direct border with Russia, it is located in a vulnerable area, sharing a long border with Putin's ally Belarus and approaching Russia's Kaliningrad enclave. In addition, Lithuania has suffered from Russian manipulation, including a suspected bombing of an Ikea store due to the colors of its logo being similar to the Ukrainian flag.
The activation of the 45th Brigade comes as Germany's military spending is set to increase dramatically. The country's parliament has voted to exempt defense spending from strict debt rules, paving the way for a major investment in military infrastructure.
"This effort to prepare in the face of a potential threat from Russia is essential," said senior German general Carsten Breuer, who stressed that the threat from Russia is real and that "any delay in preparation could be fatal." (A2 Televizion)
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