Lithuania starts building base for German troops near Russian border
A bulldozer operates at the construction site of the artillery training area of a German army base in Rudninkai, Lithuania August 19, 2024. (Photo via Reuters by Janis Laizans)
Lithuania has initiated the construction of a significant military base in Rudninkai, designed to host up to 4,000 combat-ready German troops by the end of 2027.
This marks the first permanent foreign deployment for the German military since World War II.
Historic deployment of German troops in Lithuania
The base, located just 20 kilometers from the Russian-allied Belarusian border, is a key part of NATO’s defense strategy in Eastern Europe.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius likened this deployment to the Cold War era when allied forces were stationed in West Germany to defend against a potential Soviet attack.
Germany committed to deploying troops in Lithuania, a NATO and European Union member, in 2023. The move is seen as a significant step in bolstering the defense of Eastern Europe against potential threats from Russia.
Minister Pistorius highlighted the importance of this deployment, drawing parallels to the historical defense of Western Europe during the Cold War.
Lithuanian Chief of Defence Raimundas Vaiksnoras emphasized the financial and strategic importance of this project, estimating that Lithuania will spend over 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) over the next three years.
This investment is one of the largest construction projects in Lithuania’s history and a significant expenditure for a country of 2.9 million people with an economy a tenth the size of Germany’s.
German military investments
In support of this deployment, the German government has requested 2.93 billion euros ($3.2 billion) from its parliament to order 105 Leopard 2A8 tanks, some of which will be allocated to the Lithuanian base. However, internal budget disputes within Germany’s coalition government are posing challenges to Berlin’s pledge to upgrade its military.
Lithuania has increased its defense spending to 3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) this year, and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte‘s government has implemented tax hikes to support defense initiatives, including the Rudninkai base, over the coming years.
Simonyte emphasized the mutual security relationship between Lithuania and Germany, stating, “If we are not secure, there is no security for them.”
