Deployment on NATO’s eastern flank
Many Bundeswehr soldiers have no desire to go to Lithuania
09/01/2023 2:54 p.m
To protect against Russia, Federal Defense Minister Pistorius wants to permanently station 4,000 Bundeswehr soldiers in NATO partner Lithuania. In the best case, the soldiers should go voluntarily and for the long term, but a survey shows that most see their future in Germany.
According to a “Spiegel” report, only a few Bundeswehr soldiers want to voluntarily join NATO’s eastern flank in Lithuania. In a quick survey of the potentially suitable associations, only one in five soldiers was willing to go to Lithuania voluntarily, reports the “Spiegel”. Because of the lack of interest so far, General Inspector Carsten Breuer has decreed that the attractiveness of the new mission should have high priority in the planning.
At the end of June, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that he would permanently relocate 4,000 Bundeswehr soldiers to NATO partner country Lithuania in order to protect NATO’s eastern flank. However, the soldiers should not be transferred by order, but should ideally go to Lithuania voluntarily in the long term.
At the beginning of August, General Inspector Breuer issued an instruction, according to “Spiegel”, that the “various concerns and interests” of the soldiers and their families must be taken into account “as best as possible” when planning the stationing. As an example, Breuer mentioned, among other things, the provision of kindergartens and schools for the children, medical facilities and a cultural offer.
“Anyone who informs ensures clarity”
At the same time, Breuer is said to have left open whether the Bundeswehr brigade would be permanently stationed in Lithuania from the start. It is said that the option should be planned that parts of the brigade only stay in Lithuania for a short time and then return to Germany. “First, visible implementation measures” could become visible in 2024, but at best symbolically, probably in the course of an exercise, the “Spiegel” continues, citing an internal planning paper. From there it goes on “step by step”.
The Bundeswehr Association called on the Federal Ministry of Defense for clarity. The defense department must provide information on the status of the plans in the fall, said association head André Wüstner to the “Spiegel”. “Anyone who provides information ensures clarity,” he said. “Those who don’t do this give room for rumors and resentment.”