The deployment of the German brigade in Lithuania will cost 11 billion euros

This is reported by the television channel “n-tv.de”, referring to what several participants of the meeting told the “Spiegel” magazine.

One billion euros is said to be earmarked for annual operating costs, four billion euros for major equipment such as tanks, and six billion euros for other investments such as infrastructure and uniforms.

This amount does not include the cost of benefits for service abroad. It is planned to attract 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilians to the brigade in Lithuania over several years.

As “Spiegel” writes, the representative of the ministry also admitted that many funding issues with the Lithuanian government have not yet been resolved. Among other things, they include the cost of kindergartens and schools for the children of soldiers stationed in the country, as well as the financing of housing construction.

At the beginning of April, more than 20 German soldiers arrived in Vilnius. This group is the initial commanding element of the 45th Bundeswehr Brigade in Lithuania. It is planned that the brigade in Lithuania will reach full operational capabilities in 2027.

The German brigade will include the existing 203rd tank battalion from North Rhine-Westphalia and the 122nd mechanized infantry battalion from Bavaria.

Lithuania estimates that the necessary investments in military and training infrastructure for the reception of the German brigade could reach 800 million euros.

The deployment of the German brigade in Lithuania began to be discussed after Russia’s repeated invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and Germany announced concrete plans in June of last year. Its purpose is to strengthen the security of Lithuania and the entire eastern wing of NATO.