Germany's 45th Armored Brigade to have 5,000 troops in Lithuania by 2027

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced that, if volunteer recruitment falls short, conscripts may be called up to staff the 45th Armoured Brigade of the Bundeswehr stationed in Lithuania. The brigade, which currently numbers about 2,800 personnel, is slated to reach roughly 5,000 soldiers by the end of 2027, achieving full operational readiness.

Infrastructure work is already under way in the Lithuanian border region near Belarus, with housing, schools, medical facilities and other support buildings being constructed for troops and their families. The deployment, part of a broader effort to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank, follows joint exercises such as the "Freedom Shield" drill and aims to bolster deterrence against potential threats from Russia and Belarus.