Bundeswehr in Lithuania: Germany's struggle for a strong army!

Bundeswehr in Lithuania: Germany's struggle for a strong army!

Domplatz, Vilnius, Litauen - On May 30, 2025, a significant inauguration ceremony of the 45th German Panzerbrigade took place in Vilnius. Journalists were brought from the airport to the impressive backdrop of the cathedral square, where high -ranking politicians, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius, were present. The brigade, which is to consist of around 5000 soldiers by 2027, has the goal of strengthening the common defense with Lithuania in an emergency.

The military equipment, which was presented as part of the new brigade, includes the latest vehicles and aircraft. Press officers listed the equipment, including Eurofighter, A400M transport aircraft, as well as helicopters such as CH53 and NH90. The heavy land vehicles such as Leopard 2, Puma, Dachs, Leguan and Boxer as well as various support units are also part of the German troop presence in Lithuania. This strategic position is particularly important because Lithuania lies between the Russian Kaliningrad and Belarus.

discussion about the Bundeswehr

As part of the ceremony, the state of the Bundeswehr was also discussed in detail. Chancellor Merz demanded the strongest conventional army in Europe. Germany is currently taking third place in the military spending and the seventh in the Global Firepower Index. The inspector of the army described the Bundeswehr as "blank", which underlines the urgency of reforms and investments.

The Federal Audit Office has pointed out the problem of too many "desk soldiers", which affects the efficiency of the troop. According to the Federal Association of the German Security and Defense Industry, represented by Hans-Christoph Atzpodia, investments are necessary to accelerate material procurement, especially in the field of air defense and combat drones.

Personnel problems and political debate

Another central topic is the Bundeswehr's personnel problems. The troop thickness ages and shrinks, which makes a need of 40,000 to 60,000 additional soldiers clear. The goal is an overall strength of 460,000 soldiers. André Wüstner, Chairman of the German Bundeswehr Association, calls for a reversal of thrust and discusses the possible return to compulsory military service, a topic that is controversial between the CDU/CSU and the SPD.

While the presence of troops in Lithuania is perceived as positive, soldiers such as Oberstabfeldewebel Jens B. report difficulties and challenges in Germany. The current developments show how strongly the security policy landscape is changing - a process that the [Bundeswehr] takes up to meet the challenges of time.

Further information on the Bundeswehr in Lithuania and the associated tasks are available on the official website of the [Bundeswehr]. In addition, the [Federal Ministry of Defense] offers deeper insights into the security policy framework of a "turning point".