Lithuania and Germany Start Construction on New Military Base
Lithuania and Germany recently participated in a ceremony to mark the commencement of construction for a new military base in Rudninkai, near Vilnius. The base, expected to be completed by late 2027, will accommodate up to 4,000 combat-ready German troops along with 1,000 contractors in Lithuania.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany committed to permanently station troops in Lithuania to deter potential threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrid Simonyte emphasized the importance of security for both countries during the ceremony.
The Lithuanian government has increased defense spending to 3% of GDP to support this initiative. Chief of Defense Raimundas Vaiksnoras highlighted the significant investment in the base, aiming to reassure the population and deter potential Russian aggression.
Despite concerns about meeting construction deadlines, Lithuania remains committed to awarding all remaining contracts by the end of the year. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius likened the deployment of troops to the Cold War era.
In Berlin, budget conflicts may affect Germany’s military modernization plans, including the stationing of tanks in Lithuania. The base construction is critical for strengthening NATO and EU defenses in the region.