Lithuania responsible for indirect brigade infrastructure – German minister in Vilnius

VILNIUS - Vilnius and Berlin are still discussing the necessary investments for Lithuania to host the planned German brigade, but the costs that are not directly related to the military unit are Lithuania's responsibility, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner has said in Vilnius.

"The financial burden of this commitment will be financed by the German budget, but the focus is on military expenditure in particular. On expenditures that are not directly connected with our troops, more of this responsibility is on the hosting country," the German minister told reporters in Vilnius on Friday.

For her part, Lithuanian Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste told the joint press conference that discussions on the necessary infrastructure and its financing were ongoing.

"Discussions are still ongoing on specific details," she said.

Lithuania plans that the bulk of the German brigade will be deployed in Lithuania in 2026. The joint Lithuanian-German working group has agreed to sign the deployment plan by December 22.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said earlier that not only military infrastructure, but also social infrastructure, such as schools and leisure facilities, would have to be put in place for the arrival of the German brigade in Lithuania.

This is needed, he said, because German troops will rotate every three years, meaning that their families will also be coming to Lithuania.

Lithuania and Germany started discussing the deployment of a German brigade in Lithuania after Russia invaded Ukraine. The brigade's Forward Command Element is already deployed in Lithuania.

Germany has also led an international NATO battalion deployed in Lithuania since 2017.