Lithuania has begun constructing a military base in the Rudninkai region, near the capital Vilnius and 20 kilometers from Belarus, to host German troops. This marks Germany’s first permanent troop stationing abroad since World War II. The base will accommodate over 4,000 German soldiers, with construction expected to be completed by 2027.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Lithuanian Chief of General Staff Raimundas Vaiksnoras highlighted the significance of the €1 billion project, one of the largest in the country’s history. He emphasized that this investment will strengthen the military alliance, providing reassurance to Lithuania’s 2.9 million citizens and deterring Russian aggression. Germany committed to deploying troops to Lithuania last year, as part of its NATO obligations.