That follows the security agreement signed between Berlin and Vilnius in mid-December.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius recalled that it is the first time his country has deployed such troops abroad on a permanent basis.

The first detachment is made up of about twenty soldiers, although as time passes by, there could be thousands of German soldiers deployed in Lithuania, a NATO member country.

In mid-December, 2023, the authorities of both countries ratified a military agreement for the deployment of German troops in the cities of Vilnius and Kaunas for the purpose of serving at the Rudninkai and Rukla bases.

The troop transfer process is scheduled to be completed by 2027 and the German detachment will consist of about 5,000 troops in five battalions, including tank and artillery battalions.

ef/omr/mem/dgh