German soldiers move into Lithuania
Lithuania and Germany have agreed to station a combat-ready German brigade in the Baltic state. According to the agreement just finalized, it involves not only German soldiers but also civilian employees of the German armed forces. German lawmakers still have to ratify the agreement, though. That would happen next year.
In this way, both countries want to be able to anticipate more quickly the changing and explosive situation in Europe since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
It involves 5,000 troops to be deployable by 2027. A first German commando unit of about 20 troops already arrived in Lithuania in April. Another 120 will follow in October.
Strategically, Lithuania is an important location as it borders both the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and Belarus.
(SR for Tagtik/Source: Reuters - Euronews/Illustration picture: Unsplash)