Lithuania begins construction of base for German troops near border with Russia
Ceremony of the start of construction of the base (kam.lt)
Lithuania has begun constructing a military base that will host up to 4,000 combat-ready German troops once completed by the end of 2027. This marks the first permanent deployment of German soldiers since World War II, citing Reuters.
Germany committed to stationing troops in the NATO and European Union member state that borders Russia last year. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius likened the move to the deployment of allied forces in West Germany during the Cold War to protect Western Europe in the event of a Soviet attack.
Base in Lithuania
The base in Rudninkai, near the capital Vilnius and just 20 km from Belarus, a Russian ally, will house up to 4,000 soldiers, storage facilities, tank and equipment maintenance services, as well as shooting ranges of all sizes. Another 1,000 German troops and civilian contractors will be stationed at other sites in Lithuania.
The new military infrastructure will include 120 buildings, helicopter pads, training grounds, staging areas, over 10 km of internal roads, and more. According to the contract, this infrastructure will be created and handed over to the German brigade within three years. The complex will cover 170 hectares.
The German government has requested €2.93 billion from the parliament to order 105 Leopard 2 A8 tanks, partly to equip the Lithuanian base. However, budgetary disputes within Germany's fragmented coalition threaten Berlin's promise to modernize its military.
This year, Lithuania increased its defense spending to 3% of GDP, and Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė's government raised taxes to support defense needs, including the base, over the next few years. Additionally, Lithuania decided to allocate at least 0.25% of its GDP to support Ukraine.
