German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has said soldiers could be compelled to serve in Lithuania if not enough volunteers come forward for the Bundeswehr brigade being built up in the NATO partner country, while insisting the deployment was broadly on track.
"Everything appears to be going according to plan," the German politician said during a visit to Vilnius, after meeting his Lithuanian counterpart Robertas Kaunas in the town of Pabradė.
However, Pistorius acknowledged during his visit to the first exercise of Armoured Brigade 45 that not all 4,800 soldiers would likely be recruited on a voluntary basis. If necessary, compulsory assignment could have to be used. Operational readiness was "the highest priority," Pistorius stressed repeatedly.
The stationing of the armoured brigade in Lithuania was pledged by the German government in response to the growing threat from Russia. It is seen as a central element in strengthening NATO's eastern flank and is intended to contribute to the deterrence and defence of alliance territory.
The unit is to be fully operational as a combat formation by 2027, with a total strength of around 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian staff. Around 1,800 Bundeswehr personnel are currently stationed in Lithuania.
Pistorius: Voluntary service remains the priority
Shortfalls existed, as in Germany, occasionally in specialist areas such as IT and logistics, as well as other fields, the minister said.
"We continue to rely on voluntary service and are working to offer family members the best possible conditions," Pistorius said.
Kaunas also stressed that Lithuania would do everything necessary to create the required military and civilian infrastructure for German soldiers.
The army inspector, Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, pointed out that an army does not function solely through voluntary service and that soldiers were accustomed to that.
"We will ensure they receive their mission at the right time and in the right place. And we will be operationally ready by the end of 2027. Full stop," Freuding said. Lithuania could count on that, he added.
Freedom Shield 2026
The Freedom Shield 2026 exercise at the Pabradė training area, about 20 kilometres from the Belarusian border, involves around 2,900 troops and 800 military vehicles from eight NATO countries. About 2,300 of the soldiers are from Germany.
Berlin pledged to station the brigade in Lithuania in response to what it sees as a growing threat from Russia.
The deployment marks new territory for the German military, representing its first permanent stationing of a major combat formation abroad.
