The Lithuanian President visited Berlin on Tuesday. The discussions discussed, among other things, the different levels of economic and military cooperation between Germany and Lithuania. Germany is currently significantly strengthening its role on NATO's eastern flank.

On Tuesday was the Lithuanian onePresident Gitanas NausėdaVisited Germany as part of the Berlin Security Conference. There he met with the incumbent Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). The focus of the discussions was Lithuania's upcoming EU Council Presidency from January to June 2027. The core topics of the meeting were therefore European policy priorities such as the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the implementation of the "One Europe, One Market" roadmap and EU enlargement.

There were also discussions about the development of the German brigade and the joint defense of hybrid threats. The focus was particularly on Russian disinformation and cyber attacks. The Lithuanian one was already at the beginning of October for the same purposesPrime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičiusvisiting the Federal Chancellery.

Military and economic cooperation

According to its own information, Lithuania is currently investing an amount of money in military rearmament that corresponds to around 5.38 percent of its gross domestic product. Lithuania's GDP is, according to theInternational Monetary Fundat 89.7 billion euros. It is estimated that investments will amount to around 4.83 billion euros in 2026. These will be used by the state, among other things, to set up its own national division and strengthen air and missile defense as well as drone defense.

The military cooperation between Germany and Lithuania is to be further expanded in the coming period. According to Sinkevičius, the interconnections at the economic level are also important. Germany is one of Lithuania's most important economic partners and its largest foreign investor.

Germany takes command of a “European NATO”

Why is Lithuania so important militarily for Germany?

Lithuania is of particular strategic importance because it borders Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Together with Poland, it forms access to the Baltic states via the so-called Suwałki Gap. It is above all Lithuania's geographical location that makes the state particularly relevant for NATO.

The aim of Germany's military presence on site is primarily to secure NATO's eastern flank. To this end, the military in Lithuania is being expanded so that the state and its neighbors cannot be so easily isolated from the EU in the event of war. Germany is not only pushing forward the stationing of its own armed forces in Lithuania, but also the closer military integration of Lithuania into the NATO command structures.

Part of it is the construction of the45th Panzer Brigade, with which the Bundeswehr in Rūdninkai (Lithuania) is setting up a large unit permanently outside of Germany for the first time. The brigade consists of three combat units and has around 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian employees. She officially entered service on April 1, 2025. The brigade is to be permanently integrated into Lithuanian defense planning and itsSet up by the end of 2027be completed.

The military infrastructure being built there includes around 150 buildings, accommodation, warehouses, workshops, logistics facilities, medical centers and other military facilities on an area of ​​170 hectares. The construction has an estimated total cost of more than 1.2 billion euros.

What economic and defense industrial interests does Germany pursue in Lithuania?

German-Lithuanian cooperation at the military level continues in the area of ​​the armaments industry. Lithuania is currently building one together with the German defense companies Rheinmetall and KNDSProduction and maintenance facilityfor Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks. This is located in Kaunas, Lithuania. The Lithuanian state has a 25.1 percent stake in the operating company. This participation of the Lithuanian state creates a long-term economic link with German defense companies and thus also the German economy.

Construction began in October this year. The first tank assembled in Lithuania is scheduled to be delivered as early as the end of 2028. This location is of particular importance for the Lithuanian military; up to 38 of the 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks ordered by Lithuania are to be assembled there. Investments of around 50 million euros are planned. The location will later also be used for the maintenance and repair of tanks from other countries.

New Rheinmetall factory in Lithuania – Germany is expanding in Eastern Europe

German arms exports: The armament of NATO's eastern flank

In addition to cooperation in the arms industry and the stationing of German troops, there is also the direct levelArmaments and weapons exportsadded. In the first half of 2026, the federal government approved arms exports worth a total of 13.87 billion euros.

Ukraine is the main recipient of German arms deliveries. But arms deliveries to the Baltic states are also relatively high. Weapons deliveries worth over 2.1 billion euros were approved here. Around 1.2 billion euros to Lithuania, 500 million euros to Latvia and 425 million euros to Estonia. Overall, a significant portion of all German arms exports went to NATO's eastern flank.

In August 2026, the federal government, together with Poland and Denmark, offered Lithuania participation in the Multinational Corps Northeast in Stettin. Lithuania is to be included as a fourth framework nation.

German arms exports at record levels

Surprising Zelensky visit to Berlin

On Wednesday, Merz also received a visit from the Ukrainian that was announced at short noticePresident Volodymyr Zelensky– also as part of the Berlin Security Conference.

The focus of the conversation was the current military situation in Ukraine, Ukrainian air defense and the lack of Patriot anti-missiles, further German support for Ukrainian energy supplies and the preparation of possible peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Merz also announced another summit of the Coalition of the Willing in Berlin.

Although this visit is not directly related to the cooperation with Lithuania, it is certainly important in the context of Germany's Eastern policy. Both the establishment of stronger military structures in the Baltic states, especially Lithuania, and military support for Ukraine serve to secure NATO's eastern flank. In addition to the German government, the Lithuanian government has also promised to continue to support Ukraine militarily.

The postState visit from Lithuania and Ukraine: Germany's role on NATO's eastern flankappeared firstperspective.