President Gitanas Nausėda is working towards ensuring that a German brigade is deployed to Lithuania by 2026, as stated by his adviser.

"We are dedicated to facilitating the presence of this brigade in Lithuania as swiftly as possible," expressed Asta Skaisgirytė, the president's chief foreign policy advisor, in an interview with Žinių Radijas radio on Tuesday. "The president has set the target for achieving this by 2026, and we are confident it is a feasible goal."

During the visit by Germany’s Chief of Defence General Carsten Breuer on Monday, topics including Berlin's potential support for enhancing Lithuania's security were discussed, along with specific strategies to realize this, noted Skaisgirytė.

"These strategies involve bringing the German brigade to Lithuania and reinforcing our air capabilities," the adviser remarked. "In both scenarios, Germany, under the guidance of its chief of defence, exhibited a strong commitment and determination to make this happen, particularly in regard to the brigade."

Lithuania, on its part, will need to construct the necessary infrastructure to accommodate German troops and their families, added Skaisgirytė.

Plans are currently in motion for the establishment of a new training ground, depots for ammunition and equipment, and barracks. All these infrastructural developments are anticipated to be completed in the coming years.

Breuer stated on Monday that the implementation of a deployment plan for the German brigade in Lithuania should commence early next year.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius disclosed at the NATO summit in Vilnius this past July that Berlin aimed to finalize a plan for the brigade's deployment in Lithuania by the fourth quarter of this year.

Pistorius previously stated that a 4,000-strong German brigade would be permanently stationed in Lithuania. In this scenario, troops would typically be accompanied by their families, necessitating supplementary infrastructure.

Germany has been at the helm of NATO's multinational battalion in Lithuania since 2017.

Berlin has pledged to expand this unit to the size of a brigade once Lithuania establishes the required infrastructure and if it aligns with other NATO strategies.

At present, the brigade's Forward Command Element is situated in Lithuania. Photo by Augustas Didžgalvis, Wikimedia commons.