Germany and its partners’ are determined to defend its territory NATO against any aggression, “the Chancellor said today (22.05.2025) Friedrich Mertz from Vilnius, Lithuania.
Mertz made a symbolic visit to the German forces that have been developed in Lithuania, on the eastern wing of NATO.
«Russia’s aggressive revisionism threatens not only Ukrainian securitybut also the safety her Europe and the Euro -Atlantic space, “the German Chancellor said and pointed out that The situation in the Baltic remains ‘very tense’.
“You can rely on us. The security of our allies is also our own security, “Merz assured Lithuanian President Gitanas Naoussea. The two leaders and ministers of defense of the two countries will later visit the German forces stationed in the country.
“There has never been a greater and more permanent development of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) in Eastern Europe. And I want to say this to the world: Dear Lithuanians, you can rely on Germany“, Said the Chancellor.
In Lithuania, about 4,800 Bundeswehr troops and 200 civilian officials have gradually settled in Lithuania by 2023 and will remain there at least until 2027, with the aim of enhancing the Eastern NATO wing and preventing possible Russian aggression.
For the first time, Germany maintains such a large base abroadbut the German Ministry of Defense estimates that Lithuania’s geographical location makes it “the most vulnerable state on the east side of NATO”.
Due to the Russian threat, the Lithuanian government announced last January that it will increase its defense spending to 5-6% of its GDP by 2030.